Zika virus disease (ZIKV) is nothing new and has been identified in humans since 1952 in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. However, in 2015 the first alert was issued for virus outbreaks in Brazil, with many other countries now becoming infected.
Countries affected:
Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, US Virgin Islands, Venezuela.
Transmission, signs and symptoms
ZIKV is transmitted through Aedes mosquitoes. There’s no vaccine currently available, so the best form of prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. This can be done by covering skin with long clothes and using anti-mosquito products with a high ‘deet’ content. 100% deet is the strongest, but exercise caution and read product information carefully as deet can cause skin irritation.
Travel Health Pro advise: “Aedes mosquitoes bite predominantly in the day, particularly during mid-morning and late afternoon to dusk. This type of mosquito is unlikely to be found at altitudes over 2,000m.”
Emptying, covering and cleaning any containers which can hold water is a good idea, as this removes possible breeding sites for mosquitoes.
According to WHO: “The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is not clear, but is likely to be a few days. The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days.”
The greatest threat of contracting ZIKV is towards pregnant women, or a couple planning on having a baby. The virus has been strongly linked to a condition called microcephaly, where a baby is born with a small head due to their brain not developing fully.
Women are not solely at risk: ZIKV has been shown to be present in semen for up to two weeks after infection. Travel Health Pro advise: “While the risk of sexual transmission is thought to be low, if you and your partner are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, condom use is advised for 28 days following return from an area with active ZIKV transmission or six months after recovery from Zika virus infection.”
What now? Will my travel insurance cover me?
Beth Macer, Travel Insurance expert at PayingTooMuch.com comments: “If you’re already pregnant, or had a trip booked and then fell pregnant, in order to make a claim for cancellation you’ll need to get a certificate from your doctor advising against travel.
“If you are already pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, and book a trip to an affected area after the advice not to travel was given, then most insurers would not cover cancellation claims on the grounds that it is a known risk and therefore not an unexpected event.
“However, this stance isn’t likely to continue forever. If you book a trip now to an affected area you are assumed to know the risk you are taking.”
More help?
If you would like to discuss anything, or have any questions don’t hesitate to give our travel team a call on 01243 784000.
You can find more help and information via the following links : Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organisation, Pan American Health Organisation, Travel Health Pro
