ADVICE ON TRAVEL WHERE ZIKA VIRUS IS REPORTED

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For Immediate Release

ADVICE ON TRAVEL WHERE ZIKA VIRUS IS REPORTED

4 August 2016

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. 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 traveling to both cities, Miami and to Rio De Janiero in Brazil for the Summer Olympics, 5-21 August, are reminded to take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.  Those precautions would also arise in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Zika is  a mosquito  borne  disease and may also be sexually  transmitted.

Bahamians  traveling  to  Florida  should be  aware that  while the number  of reported  cases  in Florida  is small, anyone  traveling  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 Bahamas Ministry of  Health says these would  include  clothing to cover  the  skin, wearing mosquito repellent  and avoiding  areas where  mosquitoes  are likely to  congregate like large pools of water.

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.

The watchword  then  is to take all appropriate  precautions. Please report  any infections  to the  nearest  Bahamas   Consulate  or Honorary Consulate in the  United  States.  The Ministry has assigned an officer to deal with any case emergency arising in Brazil during the Olympics. Please call The Bahamas Consulate General, Miami at the emergency number as follows: Consul Lynnith Braynen 305-607-2090.

The addresses of the Consulates and Honorary Consulates can  be found  on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration at mofa.gov.bs.

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