The CDC Has Placed These Caribbean Countries Under A Zika Travel Alert

Agent of the sanitary department destroys mosquito larvae nests in Cayenne, French Guiana. The French government has mobilized reservists in the French overseas departments and territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana to fight against the epidemic of zika. (Photo credit: JODY AMIET/AFP/Getty Images)

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Fri. Aug. 19, Aug.  2016: The Zika virus is putting a damper on everyone’s travel plans as the US’ Center for Disease Control continues to expand its non-essential travel notices for more than two dozen Caribbean countries.

The latest country added to the list is the Cayman Islands due to recent local cases of the mosquito borne virus there. Women who are pregnant are especially being warned to avoid the Cayman Islands as well as the following countries:

Guadeloupe

Bonaire

Curacao

French Guiana

Trinidad & Tobago

Saint Lucia

Cuba

Turks & Caicos

Belize

Saint Martin

Sint Maarten

Puerto Rico

Martinique

Aruba

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Jamaica

Suriname

Haiti

Guyana

U.S. Virgin Islands

Saba

Antigua & Barbuda

St. Barts

Dominica

Anguilla

St. Eustacius

Grenada

Travelers are also encouraged to protect themselves from mosquito bites; use mosquito repellants with DEET and use condoms if engaging in sexual activity or not have sex if travelling to the islands as there is no vaccine currently for the disease and Zika can be transmitted by sex.

Many people infected with the Zika virus do not get sick but among those who do develop symptoms, the sickness is usually mild, with symptoms that last for several days to a week. The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis for a few weeks to several months.  Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika but only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent damage.