Zika concerns travelling to Puerto Rico?
I am a United States male that will be taking a trip to Puerto Rico in two weeks. This will be one of my first airplane trips, certainly the farthest away. Recent news has focused on Puerto Rico for its widespread outbreak of Zika Virus, with sources like NPR citing up to 1500 new cases a week.
Is there anything, other than CDC recommended prevention techniques (i.e long sleeves and bug spray) I should do during/after this trip? Should I visit a doctor after just to be sure? I am not incredibly concerned with the health impact if I were to contract the disease, the symptoms appear mild and pass fairly quickly, I do however have a girlfriend I would prefer not to pass it to. Is there a chance of increased scrutiny trying to fly home? Seeing as the few cases in Miami are making national news daily it seems like officials want to track any possible case in the US, would they want to make sure it is not being brought back by travelers?
Best Answer
There is no "increased scrutiny", Puerto Rico is part of the US and flights are domestic. If you are concerned about transmitting Zika to your girlfriend, you could use barrier contraception (a condom) after you return until you are sure you didn't catch it.
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Is Zika still in Puerto Rico 2021?
Previously, Puerto Rico reported (573) confirmed and (63) probable dengue cases, and (1) confirmed and (44) probable Zika cases in 2021. In 2021, the vicinity around the city of San Juan reported the most dengue (249) and Zika (10) probable cases last year.Is Zika still an issue in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, has facing a widespread Zika outbreak for several months. The CDC reported that there were 683 lab-confirmed current or recent cases of Zika virus between November 1 and April 15. At least 65 of those cases occurred in pregnant women.Can I fly to Puerto Rico pregnant?
Most will not allow you to travel after 24\u201328 weeks of pregnancy, and you may need to have a note from your doctor stating you are fit to travel. Car crashes are a leading cause of injury for healthy US travelers abroad.Is Zika virus still a concern 2021?
Zika continues to be a problem in many parts of the world. There is no vaccine to prevent infection. Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae.Zika in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Beyond: Risks and Response | The Forum at HCSPH
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