Venturing
to areas where the Zika virus has become more prevalent continues to be a
concern for some travelers, particularly those who are pregnant or wish to
become pregnant imminently. If you are considering a cruise for this winter,
you may be going to one of the areas with locally transmitted cases of Zika,
including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America to some of the South
Pacific islands.
Zika
is usually a mild illness: the majority of people who get it don’t even notice
any symptoms. About 20 percent of infected people experience a mild fever,
rash, joint pain, red eyes, headache or muscle ache. The illness typically
resolves itself within a week.
For
most people, Zika poses little to no risk. However, for women who are pregnant
or trying to become pregnant, it’s a different story. There is a link between
Zika in a mother and congenital birth defects in their children, including
microcephaly (being born with an unusually small head as a result of incomplete
brain development). That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has advised that pregnant women and women actively trying to become pregnant
postpone travel to regions affected by Zika.
For
all other travelers, it is important not to be fearful, but to be educated
about Zika, how it’s transmitted, and how to protect yourself.
Zika
is a mosquito-borne virus, meaning a bite from an infected mosquito can
transfer the virus to the person being bitten. Also, it’s now known that the
virus can be passed between sexual partners.
There’s
no vaccine for Zika, but you can protect yourself. To protect yourself against
mosquitos, use an insect repellent that contains DEET, picardin or IR3535:
these ingredients are considered safe and effective for pregnant women, too.
Spray your clothes and exposed skin.
Take
your repellent along on shore excursions so that you can reapply it as often as
recommended. To avoid mosquitos, choose excursions that are mostly indoors or
on air-conditioned buses.
After
traveling to a Zika zone, the CDC suggests waiting before trying to conceive a
child: for women, the recommended wait is two months; for men, six months.
Finally,
if you’ve booked a cruise but wish to cancel due to Zika concerns, talk with Anita,
your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert: some cruise lines are offering to
rebook guests on a cruise away from Zika zones, or to reschedule for a later
date.
Follow us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel
