The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has strengthened its advice on the zika virus, and is now warning pregnant women to avoid all but essential travel to affected regions.
Previously, the FCO simply urged pregnant women, or those planning to become pregnant, to speak to their GP before travelling. The amended advice effectively closes the door to some of the world’s most popular holiday and honeymoon destinations. Last week, the virus reached Cuba, which had been one of the few remaining unaffected Caribbean islands.
Doctors believe the mosquito-borne virus is responsible for brain damage in newborn babies. However, research published in The Lancet last week suggests that it may not be solely pregnant women and their unborn children who are at risk. New findings link the virus to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. The Lancet describes Guillain-Barré as causing “progressive paralysis over 1-3 weeks, with a 5% death rate and up to 20% of patients left with a significant disability”.
So can I cancel my trip?
If you’re pregnant, and you have GP’s letter to prove it, UK tour operators should now allow you and all members of your party on the same booking to take your holiday in a different destination and refund any difference in price. Virgin Holidays goes one step further: “We are offering full refunds to pregnant customers or rebooking them to a different destination,” it said. “This also includes all members of the party.”
What if I’m not pregnant?
Normal booking conditions apply, meaning that if you cancel, you cannot expect a refund. The FCO is advising couples to use condoms if they have sex during the holiday, and for 28 days after return, to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
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I didn’t book a package. What are my options?
If you booked flights and accommodation independently, you’re on a stickier wicket. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta are allowing pregnant women and others on the same booking to change their flights or get a refund. Thomson Airways and Thomas Cook Airlines are allowing amendments only. Other carriers, such as Air Europa, are less clear. Call customer services for advice . As for the accommodation, hotels in the affected regions are not offering refunds.
Can I claim on my insurance?
That depends. If you took out your insurance after the zika threat was known — that is, after November 2015 — then you probably won’t be able to claim. According to Malcolm Tarling at the Association of British Insurers, the situation might be different if “you have a policy that covers cancellation costs due to government advice not to travel”. As ever, check the small print or speak to the insurer.
What are the symptoms of zika?
The virus takes hold from 2-12 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and most people present no symptoms. Those who do may suffer from fever,
a rash, aching limbs and joints, conjunctivitis, headaches or itching. Symptoms should disappear without treatment in 4-7 days .
How can I avoid it?
There is neither a vaccine nor a cure for zika. Apart from staying away from affected areas, the best approach is to avoid being bitten: wear long sleeves and trousers during the daylight hours, when the Aedes aegypti mosquito is active, and use Deet-based insect repellent and a mosquito net.