CDC Updates Zika Virus Travel Alerts: Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde, and Samoa Added

On January 22, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the addition of several destinations to its interim travel guidance related to ongoing Zika virus transmission. The agency added Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa to the list of areas where travelers may be at risk of infection. This update followed an initial travel alert issued on January 15, 2016, for regions including Puerto Rico, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela.

The CDC emphasized that specific areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission are often difficult to determine and may change over time as more information becomes available. Travelers to areas where cases of Zika virus infection have been recently confirmed are at risk of being infected, and may also be exposed to dengue or chikungunya viruses, which are transmitted by the same mosquito species.

The mosquitoes that spread Zika, chikungunya, and dengue are described as aggressive daytime biters that prefer to bite people and live both indoors and outdoors near human populations. At the time of the announcement, there was no vaccine or medicine available to prevent or treat Zika virus infection. The CDC stated that the best way to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito bites.

Some travelers who become infected while visiting areas with ongoing transmission may not develop symptoms until after they return home. Symptoms of Zika virus infection typically include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Other commonly reported symptoms are muscle pain, headache, and pain behind the eyes. The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.

The CDC noted that it continues to work with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus transmission and will update travel alerts as more information becomes available. The agency advises travelers to consult its Travelers’ Health website for active Zika Travel Health Notices and to review risk maps before making travel plans.