Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have added four more destinations to their Zika virus travel alert – American Samoa, Costa Rica, Curacao, and Nicaragua.
The Level 2 travel alert means that individuals are urged to take enhanced precautions against mosquito bites while in these regions to minimize their chances of contracting the Zika virus. Pregnant women are being advised to consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission in ongoing. Pregnant women and those trying to become pregnant who must travel to these areas are advised to consult with their physician before traveling and take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
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The CDC has already issued a Level 2 travel alert for these areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: Puerto Rico, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname, Venezuela, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
An up-to-date list of affected countries and regions is available at www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html.
mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com
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