
Aedes Mosquitoes are habituating in Greece , though no infection case has to date been reported by the Greek Epidemiological Surveillance System
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WHO: Zika for Travelers
WHO: Zika for Travelers
Based on available evidence,
WHO has issued no general restrictions on travel or trade with countries
areas and/or territories
with Zika virus transmission.
However, WHO is advising pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus oubreaks.
As a precautionary measure, some national governments may make
public health and travel recommendations to their own populations, based on their assessment of the available evidence and local risk factors.


In light of the latest scientific and epidemiological developments, ECDC has updated its rapid risk assessment on the Zika virus disease epidemic.
The outbreak is unprecedented in terms of size and public health impact. The evolution of the Zika epidemic in the Americas and other world regions demands close monitoring as it has a direct impact on the risk of importation and possible local transmission in the European Union.
- The viral circulation in affected countries coincides with the summer holiday period in Europe and it is expected that Zika viraemic travellers will continue to return to the EU during the entire 2016 European mosquito season
- This will create the possibility of onward mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in receptive areas in Europe, however, no such cases have been reported to date.
Revealed by WHO, the areas of Europe where Zika is most likely to strike

In Europe:1 265 travel-associated Zika virus infections


- in Central America and the Caribbean and, notably,
- local mosquito-borne transmission has reached Florida, USA.
- Between 30 June and 17 August 2016, seven new countries and territories reported locally-acquired cases (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Guinea-Bissau and Federated States of Micronesia) and
- one new country reported non vector-borne Zika virus transmission (Spain).
#Cancel4Zika, by Travel Insurance Special Category only
Having
travel insurance could help if the policy covers the person for emergency medical, medical evacuation and trip interruption benefits,
says Travel Insurance industry in the USA

But travel insurance providers are
not considering the CDC warning a reason to cancel a trip to an affected country, he says.
Only those travelers with Cancel for Any Reason options in their policies can cancel and recoup some of their money, Travel insurance enterprises' owners told the USA Today
“For the most part, on most travel, we don’t see a lot of people purchasing the (Cancel for Any Reason) upgrade because it’s expensive and you don’t get your full money back,”
Zika and Sex
Zika and Sex
- through the bites of infected mosquitoes,
- sexual contact
On 7 June 2016, WHO updated its Interim guidance on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus, and in particular the advice to returning travellers.
Although the primary transmission route of Zika virus is via the Aedes mosquito, sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible and more common than previously assumed. As the current evidence base on Zika virus remains limited, WHO regularly reviews its guidance and updates the recommendations as new evidence emerges.
- “Couples or women planning a pregnancy who are returning from areas where transmission of Zika virus is known to occur, are strongly recommended to wait at least 8 weeks before trying to conceive to ensure that any possible Zika virus infection has cleared; and 6 months if the male partner was symptomatic.”
- “Men and women returning from areas where transmission of Zika virus is known to occur should adopt safer sex practices or consider abstinence for at least 8 weeks upon return.
- If before or during that period Zika virus symptoms (rash, fever, arthralgia, myalgia or conjunctivitis) occur, men should adopt safer sex practices or consider abstinence for at least 6 months”.
What ECDC does for ZIKA
The updated Rapid Risk Assessment on Zika of the ECDC by 12 July 2016.includes a revised presentation of the options for risk reduction and definition of terms in order to provide greater clarity for the range of different population groups. There have been no substantive changes to the options which cover:
- Preventing mosquito-borne and sexual transmission
- Advice to populations at risk and persons returning from affected areas
- Information to healthcare providers in EU Member States
- Safety of substances of human origin
- Surveillance of imported cases and local transmission in continental Europe.

- A Zika virus infection Atlas is also available on the ECDC website.
- ECDC updated its Rapid Risk Assessment on Zika on 12 July 2016.