More than half of U.S. travelers returning from overseas in the first three weeks of January are reporting symptoms of Zika-like illnesses, according to a new CDC travel advisory.
The advisory, issued on Thursday, follows a surge in travel from Brazil and neighboring countries.
“We continue to observe a spike in Zika cases in Brazil and the region,” CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said.
“This could be related to the impact of the mosquito-borne virus in Brazil, but it could also be a result of a surge of cases from elsewhere in the Americas.”
Travelers returning from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile are all considered at risk for Zika-associated illness.
The most common Zika symptoms in those countries include fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, headache, rash or conjunctivitis, or red eyes.
The CDC’s Traveler and Respiratory Disease Division says travelers returning to the U.K. from those countries should avoid travel until symptoms subside.
Other U.T.
Os. from Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Caribbean are also at risk of Zika illness.
Travelers who travel to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Panama and the United Arab Emirates are at increased risk.
Traveler’s Guide to Zika: http://bit.ly/1fX7Z9r