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Washington • The World Health Organization on Friday issued its first set of recommendations for travel to Zika-impacted countries. Its advice to pregnant women — to consider delaying their trips — is similar to language used by U.S. officials and represents a recognition of the mounting evidence of a link between the mosquito-borne virus and birth defects in newborns.
The WHO guidance also included strong language regarding the possible risk of sexual transmission, advising all travelers but especially pregnant women and their partners returning from an area where Zika is circulating to use condoms.
The group said that there's no reason to recommend any travel or trade restrictions at this time. "Countries reporting sporadic Zika infections in travellers arriving from affected countries pose little, if any, risk of onward transmission," the WHO said in a statement.
However, the guidelines caution travelers to stay alert about the latest news about Zika and to take steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites during their trip. The WHO is advising travelers to:
Use insect repellent: repellents may be applied to exposed skin or to clothing, and should contain DEET. Repellents must be used in strict accordance with the label instructions.
Wear clothes (preferably light-colored) that cover as much of the body as possible.
Use physical barriers, such as screens, closed doors and windows.
Sleep under mosquito nets, especially during the day, when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.
Identify and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites by emptying, cleaning or covering containers that can hold even small amounts of water, such as buckets, vases and flower pots.