Travellers warned of Zika virus
NWT chief public health officer cautions those travelling to Mexico, the Caribbean and South America
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, February 5, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Those intending to travel to the Caribbean, Mexico or Central or South America this winter are being asked by the territory's chief public health officer to reconsider their plans as fears of the Zika virus heighten worldwide.
Sarah Bradfield would have been walking through these doors at the Yellowknife airport on the first leg of a Bahamas vacation. Instead, she's going to play it safe and stay away. She is pregnant and wary of any dangers associated with the Zika virus. The NWT chief public health officer said people with plans to travel to the tropics should reconsider. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
Dr. Andre Corriveau said he isn't telling people not to go south but added travellers, particularly those who are pregnant, should give their plans a second thought.
"You should think about ... whether you want to take that risk," Corriveau said, adding this especially applies to those in their early stages of pregnancy.
"It's something to think about and maybe if you don't really need to go, you could postpone your trip."
Corriveau said he is quoting the advice he has received from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is linked to an alarming spike in babies born with a condition that causes abnormally small heads and stunts brain development. On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency after it had been detected in at least 24 countries.
"It's not about panicking," said Corriveau.
"There are other viruses that you have to worry about when you go to those countries anyhow - protect yourself against insect bites when you go travel to tropical and subtropical countries."
Corriveau said that the breed of mosquito that spreads the disease is not found in Canada, but added the virus can be spread by blood transfusions or, in rare cases, through sexual contact.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. is also now warning pregnant women against travel to those high-risk areas. There have been no reported cases of the Zika virus in Canada but there had been at least two in the U.S. as of Wednesday.
Susan Mercredi, owner and president of Top of the World Travel in Yellowknife, stated in an e-mail her customers have been asking questions about travel to Mexico and the Caribbean and how the Zika virus will affect them.
"It is our responsibility as professional travel advisers to be aware of global issues be it health, war or disasters and to provide our customers with the tools and information they need to assist them in making an informed decision," Mercredi stated. "
For health alerts, we advise customers to contact their public health office or physician. We also direct them to our Top of the World website for links to current health advisories through the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada."
Pregnant Yellowknifer Sarah Bradfield had been invited on a trip to the Bahamas. She had already decided not to go but added that once she heard about the Zika virus and the warnings that are going out to pregnant women, it made her decision that much easier.
"I was kind of resolved not to go because I am 30 weeks along and by that point would have been 34 weeks along. Travelling to a different country when you are that far along is probably not that safe," Bradfield said. "It was still an option but it sealed the deal knowing that it could be more harmful."
Bradfield said she has heard about the Zika virus and is aware that it has been blamed for serious birth defects.
"With that in mind I just don't think that it is worth the risk. It's careless to put yourself at risk when there could be some consequences - not that it's guaranteed to happen but just the chance of it potentially happening is enough deterrent to want to stay put for the time being," she said.
