In case you have not heard, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued a travel alert for travelers to specific countries in the Caribbean (Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique and Saint Martin) and Latin America (Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela) due to the Zika virus, a mosquito related illness.
Zika virus is spread primarily through mosquitoes, which mainly bite during daytime hours. It is not transmitted from person to person. Symptoms of Zika typically develop 3-12 days after being bitten and may include fever, headache, skin rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Pregnant women should pay special attention to the travel alert and take necessary precaution to avoid mosquito bites.The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from 2-7 days and most people who contract Zika experience no symptoms at all. The precautions recommended by the CDC are similar to those to prevent other mosquito borne illnesses like dengue fever, chikungunya, and West Nile virus and include wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using insect repellents containing DEET to avoid mosquito bites.
There is no vaccine to prevent Zika Fever however you can reduce your risk of contracting Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses by following these steps prior to going ashore:
- Apply insect repellent which contains one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535.
- If both sunscreen and insect repellent is used, apply the sunscreen first and then the repellent.
- Repellent is available for purchase from the shops on board.
- Wear a loose, long-sleeved shirt and long pants, preferably of a light color to minimize the likelihood of being bitten.
Additional information can be found under the Travelers Health section of the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices.
As a result of this travel alert, Guests who are pregnant may wish to modify their cruise reservation. All affected Guests will receive an email with further information directly from Disney Cruise Line. If you wish to modify your reservation due to the Zika Virus, please call the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center for assistance at 800-939-2784 or contact your World of Magic Travel Agent and we will be happy and ready to help!
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