CDC adds Jamaica and Tonga to Zika travel advisory list
The Centers for Disease Control announced Wednesday the addition of Jamaica and Tonga to the list of places where confirmed cases of Zika virus should give pregnant women pause before visiting.
The Level 2 notice advises pregnant women as well as women trying to get pregnant to practice enhanced precautions.
The CDC advises pregnant women to postpone trips to the more than two dozen destinations with confirmed cases of Zika virus, and advises women trying to get pregnant to talk to their doctor.
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Concerns about Zika virus have had a quick impact on the travel industry.
Travel insurance provider RoamRight told Reuters that revenue from the company's "Cancel for any reason" policy for Zika-impacted areas had increased 81% in January, compared to the same month last year.
The biggest impact has been on destination wedding and babymoon travel.
Laura E. Lynn, who is five months pregnant, told the Associated Press she canceled a vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
"I couldn't imagine being stuck inside in long sleeves, paranoid about being bitten and unable to relax," she told the AP.
As an alternative to typical honeymoon and babymoon destinations, travel agencies are recommending Hawaii or Europe.
Meanwhile, government officials are also working on precautions in light of a case possibly due to sexual transmission in Texas.
"CDC will issue guidance in the coming days on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus, with a focus on the male sexual partners of women who are or who may be pregnant," the agency said in Wednesday's statement.
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