Zika travel warning

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new travel advice for 11 Southeast Asian countries, advising pregnant women to consider postponing nonessential travel to Southeast Asian countries with reports of the #Zika virus infection.

The 11 countries on the list are:

• Brunei
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste (East Timor)
• Vietnam

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Zika in Singapore

OUT of 329 reported cases of the #Zika virus in #Singapore 8 pregnant women have been infected and the Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency are working together to provide support to the infected women

The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people – particularly pregnant women – have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.

Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.

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Zika warning for Europe – ‘moderate’ risk in France, Spain, Italy & Greece

THE ZIKA virus could travel east to Europe this summer, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate. Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes could spread the virus, such as the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira. Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low.

The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people – particularly pregnant women – have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.

Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.

Professor Jimmy Whitworth, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says the risk of Zika spreading to Europe was real and called for holidaymakers to heed health advice. ‘The main mosquito vector for Zika, Aedes aegypti, is only found in Madeira and around the Black Sea, but another mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is more widespread and is capable of transmitting Zika, although not very efficiently.

‘Countries in Southern Europe, including France and Italy, need to be especially vigilant and it's important that holidaymakers follow public health advice while abroad, including taking all the necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten.

‘This is especially so for pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant, travelling to areas where there is Zika, as there is now a proven link with microcephaly and other birth defects.’

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Global travel risks mapped

THE medical and travel security services company, International SOS has partnered with Control Risks to launch a 2016 Travel Risk Map to help organizations understand the safety risks in the markets where they operate and travel. 

The map displays each country’s medical and travel security risk rating.

Rob Walker, head of Information and Analysis at International SOS and Control Risks, said: ‘Education and information – and, in some cases, training – are vital to helping employees understand and mitigate threats to their personal safety. Our comprehensive overview reveals that in 75% of countries the medical risk is assessed to be at a different level from the travel security risk. This range within individual countries highlights the complexities organizations face when preparing staff to travel abroad. Organizations are encouraged to review both medical and security issues when preparing their employees for travel and assignment abroad.’

A recent Ipsos Global Advisor study asked participants about their concerns and preparations when travelling abroad. The report found that while eight in 10 travellers believed their personal safety could be threatened while abroad, fewer than four in 10 researched crime risks, neighbourhoods to avoid, safety standards of public transport, or security features of their accommodation before they travelled.

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