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Several Canadian airlines, including WestJet and Air Canada, say they will let travellers change bookings or get a refund if they want to cancel their flights because of concerns over the Zika virus outbreak.
The airlines announced changes to their cancellation policies on Thursday, following similar announcements by United Airlines and American Airlines in the U.S.
Should Canadians travel to affected regions?
Zika virus is “spreading explosively” and will touch every part of the Americas – except for Canada and Chile, global health officials warn.
Health officials in El Salvador, Brazil, Jamaica, Ecuador, Honduras and Colombia told residents to postpone pregnancy for up to two years until doctors better understand if the infection tampers with brain development in infants.
The CDC names 14 affected regions so far: right now, the list of affected countries includes: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
Canadian researchers project that Zika could make its way into Florida, southern Texas, Mexico and the Caribbean – all popular vacation destinations for winter-weary Canucks.
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes mild fever and rash. Other symptoms include muscle pain, joint pain, headache, pain behind the eyes and conjunctivitis.
Zika virus disease is usually mild, with symptoms lasting only a few days.
The disease has similar clinical signs to dengue, and may be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
There is no cure for Zika virus disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
Prevention and control relies on reducing the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and minimizing contact between mosquito vectors and people by using barriers (such as repellents, insect screens), reducing water-filled habitats supporting mosquito larvae in and close to dwellings, and reducing the adult mosquito populations around at-risk communities.
Agencies/Canadajournal
Olympic Games is done in winter epoch in Brazil. mosquitoes do not breed.
86% of cases of zika in northeastern Brazil is not in rio de janeiro. We were played where the transgenic mosquitoes Oxitec was where most cases occurred zika. because majoritamente cases of microcephaly happen northeastern Brazil. Mere coincidence. Africa has always had disease zika decades and never had cases of microcephaly.