Zika virus remains concern for travelers with pregnancy plans
Jamie Biesiada , Travel Weekly
While mainstream media coverage of the Zika virus has largely faded into the background, agents say that clients who are most at risk of negative side effects -- women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant -- are still avoiding travel to areas where the virus has been locally transmitted.
In late 2015 and early 2016, Zika was confirmed in a number of countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The virus started to make headlines following a February 2016 declaration by the World Health Organization that Zika was a public health emergency, with proven links to serious birth defects. The virus eventually made its way as far north as Miami.
Zika is still present in dozens of those countries (see chart).
"Travelers looking to get pregnant or who are pregnant have to decide if they want to take that risk," said Darcy Allen, owner of Travel by Darcy in Epping, N.H. "I would say, largely, they are picking alternative destinations or making sure they are tested when they get home before trying to start a family."