The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has issued a travel advisory connected to the global Zika epidemic, warning Bahamian travellers of a scourge in cases in Brazil and the Wynwood area of Miami, Florida.

The advisory came a week after US health agencies warned against travel to the Florida neighbourhood and months after warning against travel to Brazil.

In a comprehensive statement to the press, the ministry insisted that Bahamians travelling to both Miami and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the Summer Olympics take “appropriate precautions” to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

The statement also urged that similar precautions be taken by travellers heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration wishes to advise Bahamians travelling to Brazil and to the United States in Florida, in the city of Miami in particular, of reports of the Zika virus in those places. In Miami, the virus has been discovered to be most prevalent in the Wynwood area of the city,” the advisory indicated.

“There have also been cases of local transmission reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The virus is mosquito-borne. The ministry wishes to offer guidance to people travelling to those places or anywhere that the Zika virus has been reported.

“Bahamians travelling to both cities, Miami and to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the Summer Olympics, August 5-21, are reminded to take proper precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Those precautions would also arise in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

The ministry’s statement continued: “Bahamians travelling to Florida should be aware that while the number of reported cases in Florida is small, anyone travelling there should also take appropriate precautions. The disease is more prevalent in Brazil. The number of cases in the Turks and Caicos is small.

“The symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever and pain around the eyes. Pregnant women should be especially careful, as cases affecting the health of unborn children have been reported. There are also rare cases of paralysis associated with Zika infections.”

Officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration further adopted the systems and procedures offered by the Ministry of Health, warning all residents travelling to these areas to wear clothing that covers all areas of the body, wear mosquito repellent, and avoid areas where mosquitoes are likely to congregate, like large pools of water.

According to health officials, Zika is a mosquito-borne disease and may also be sexually transmitted.

International health officials have long warned women who are pregnant or intend to get pregnant that they should guard against Zika.

The World Health Organisation has advised that persons wait at least six months to try for a pregnancy if the male partner had symptoms of Zika.

To date, there have been five confirmed cases in Turks and Caicos, 15 in Florida and an estimated 170,000 in Brazil.