Zika Concerns Growing

Tourism industry heavyweights in Canada are moving to deal with fears that travellers may have about the Zika virus, while at the same time reporting they’ve only seen limited concern here about a health threat that the World Health Organization last week said is spreading “explosively,” reports Ian Stalker in this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.

The WHO has now declared the Zika virus is an international health emergency following a Feb. 1 meeting: with authorities reporting it has now been found in more than 20 countries, most of them in Latin America.

One WHO member warned the Americas could see four million cases of the mosquito-borne virus within the coming 12 months. Pregnant women are being warned to be particularly careful about Zika, being blamed by some for birth defects.

Transat spokeswoman Debbie Cabana said they are offering pregnant women who produce a medical note confirming their pregnancy alternative dates or destinations if they’ve booked travel to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, St. Maarten, Haiti, Martinique/Guadeloupe, Honduras or Colombia.

“We are receiving some calls from clients, mostly pregnant women, asking for information regarding the Zika virus,” Cabana told Travel Courier.

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier by clicking here.