Travel Warnings Revised by US Government as Zika Virus Falters at Higher Elevation
According to reports, the Zika travel issues have been pacified to a larger extent with the government allowing pregnant women an open pass to Mexico City. This came as a surprise to some but US Govt. explains the leniency as the inability of Zika Mosquitos to breed and spread at regions of higher elevation. Breeding conditions at higher altitudes are scarce— with lack of humidity and the sickening moisture— usually needed by Zika virus to throb with élan. Reaffirming the same are the reports availed from the CDC— showing the inefficacy of this virus in higher vicinities.
A female Aedes aegypti mosquito
Image/CDC
As we know, pregnant women were advised against travelling to the regions with Zika’s predominance— mid-January onwards. The US Government was wary of consequences owing to those surging birth-defects encountered in Brazil— owing to the Zika Virus. The diseased tentacles were then expanded to around 36 regions— mostly in Caribbean and Latin America.
The recent revision keeps out regions, around 6,500 above the sea-level. CDC officials were pretty open about this move— perpetuating science as the driving force behind this move. This step came in the wake of those subjective tourism and trade concerns— getting hampered by these over-the-top travel warnings.
Dr Martin Cetron, Member CDC, ‘Division of Global Migration and Quarantine’ is affirmative about this move. He said, this step will please several countries— leading to better trading relations.
The likes of Bogota, La Paz and Mexico City are the winners out here— having larger cities and extremely sizeable, high-altitude areas. However, as per reports— Mexico’s heath department put forth a few positive ideas concerning this travel-oriented leniency. The ‘Blanket Travel Advisory’ then headed back to CDC and the results are clearly visible. DR Cuitlahuac Ruiz Matuz from Mexico still feels that CDC and the US government should have had more clarity of thought— segregating the infected regions precisely, well-in advance.
143 cases were synonymous to Mexico City, 128 confirmed detections in southern regions of Oaxaca and Chiapas and rest of the 15 instances— spanning over 6 other states. Not just the capital— some of the other cities with higher elevation include destinations like Puebla, Guanajuato and San Cristobal. The usual symptoms of Zika include mild rashes, fever and red eyes— conditions that aren’t exactly sickening to begin with. However, the concerning matters include the potential birth defects.
The CDC also urges tourists to use repellents and other options to keep mosquitoes at bay— lest the Zika infected regions couldn’t be avoided as travel destinations.
Author: Richard Smith
photo/ Rudy and Peter Skitterians via Pixabay
