U.S. considers issuing a travel health warning
Travel Health
As the Zika virus has been linked to serious birth defects, American officials consider releasing a warning for pregnant women traveling to exposed countries
Health authorities in countries like Brazil linked the mosquitoes-borne virus with brain damage in newborn babies (microcephaly). The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Consequently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health experts are considering issuing the first health warning ever about pregnant women traveling to affected regions. According to some infectious disease specialists, the warning may have a big impact on the countries' tourism and travel industries.
Dr. Peter J Hotez, virologist at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, commented:
“This is going to decimate Caribbean tourism. But we can’t wait to act until nine months from now, when congenital defects turn up in the labour and delivery suites.”
CDC spokesman Thomas Skinner declared for the Times, as United States federal health officials are still debating on the matter:
“We can’t make these decisions in a vacuum. We’re consulting with other experts outside.”
14 countries in Latin American and Caribbean regions have been affected by outbreaks of the Zika virus in May.
Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela are the regions targeted by the warning.
Health authorities in countries like Brazil linked the mosquitoes-borne virus with brain damage in newborn babies (microcephaly). The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Consequently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health experts are considering issuing the first health warning ever about pregnant women traveling to affected regions. According to some infectious disease specialists, the warning may have a big impact on the countries' tourism and travel industries.
Dr. Peter J Hotez, virologist at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, commented:
“This is going to decimate Caribbean tourism. But we can’t wait to act until nine months from now, when congenital defects turn up in the labour and delivery suites.”
CDC spokesman Thomas Skinner declared for the Times, as United States federal health officials are still debating on the matter:
“We can’t make these decisions in a vacuum. We’re consulting with other experts outside.”
14 countries in Latin American and Caribbean regions have been affected by outbreaks of the Zika virus in May.
Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela are the regions targeted by the warning.
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