CDC Issues New Zika Warning On Several Caribbean Countries

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Thurs. Aug. 16, 2018:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, (CDC), has updated its travel warnings on 22 Caribbean nations News Americas has found, stating that the zika virus has been reported in these nations again this summer.

The travel notices were updated on August 7th, with the CDC listing the countries alert status as level two, meaning travelers should “practice enhanced precautions” if travelling there.

The warnings for all of the 22 Caribbean nations state that the “Zika virus (or Zika) has been reported” there and that “public health officials have reported that mosquitoes in (the countries) are infected with Zika and spreading it to people.”

The 22 countries with new Zika warnings in the Caribbean are:

1: Aruba

2: Barbados

3: Bonaire

4: Curacao

5: Saint Martin

6: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

7: Sint Maarten

8: Trinidad & Tobago

9: Belize

10: Dominica

11: Saint Lucia

12: Grenada

13: Anguilla

14: Sint Eustatius

15: Saba

16: Antigua and Barbuda

17: Turks & Caicos

18: The British Virgin Islands

19: Saint Kitts and Nevis

20: Montserrat

21: Cuba

22: U.S. Virgin Islands

Pregnant women are especially being warned not to travel to these countries because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

Pregnant women who have a partner who lives in or has traveled to any of the countries listed should either use condoms or do not have sex for the rest of the pregnancy.

Many people infected with the Zika virus, however, do not get sick or only have mild symptoms. But because there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika, travelers should take steps to prevent getting Zika during travel. They should also take steps to prevent spreading it when they return home.

All travelers to areas with risk of Zika should prevent mosquito bites and use condoms or not have sex to protect against Zika during travel, the CDC says. They should also continue to take these precautions after their trip to stop the spread of Zika to others back home.