After a prominent television journalist and several athletes backed out of the Olympic Games in Brazil because of concerns about that country’s Zika outbreak, some businesses are questioning how best to protect employees headed to affected regions.
Golfer Jason Day announced last week that he would not participate in the Games when they kick off next month in Rio. He joins other golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Shane Lowry, who said they will not play in Brazil.
In early June, Today co-host Savannah Guthrie said she would not help cover the Olympics because she is expecting her second child and is concerned about the Zika virus' link to birth defects and miscarriages.
Though Brazil is at the center of the Zika crisis, the largely mosquito-borne virus has struck at least 61 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization, increasing the possibility of exposure for some global travelers.
“One thing that’s become challenging for the business and leisure traveler is that Zika has spread to a lot of areas where people travel, including the United States, and avoiding it is becoming more and more difficult,’’ says Daniel Durazo, spokesman for Allianz Global Assistance, USA, which provides travel insurance and other travel assistance to businesses as well as other clients. “I think people need to become aware of what the risks are and plan accordingly.’’
A Zika infection can lead to symptoms as mild as a rash, fever or joint pain. The virus has also been linked to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby has an abnormally small head and may struggle throughout their lifetime with a series of health issues ranging from vision problems to intellectual disabilities and seizures. Zika may cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can lead to paralysis or death.
The WHO has not declared a general restriction on trips to Zika-affected areas, but in February, the organization said the spread of the virus was a worldwide emergency, and it recommends that pregnant women avoid traveling to locations where there are outbreaks.
“It’s a deep concern for travelers obviously, because any time you are in an area with poor sanitation or standing water, which is very common through Latin America, you’re potentially going to be subjected to this particular species of mosquito,’’ says Brian McNary, vice president of the global risk group at Pinkerton, a corporate risk management firm.
Businesses haven't been canceling trips to areas that have experienced Zika outbreaks. "Most travel managers I have spoken with say it's not a major issue,'' says Kevin Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition, "but they are being flexible and allowing employees to opt out of travel to the worst-hit areas if they are concerned.''
McNary agrees that businesses do not seem to be postponing trips, but he has seen “an uptick in caution and pre-trip awareness.’’
Because Zika most seriously affects a subset of the public — pregnant women, women who may become pregnant and their partners — some risk-management experts say the virus may not be quite as alarming as such previous health scares as H1N1 or SARS, which put a chill on some travel.
“The risk potential is heavily restricted to those who are currently pregnant, intending to become pregnant or a partner,’’ McNary says. “That’s still a very large segment of the population, but it does narrow it down from anybody or everybody."
For travelers who are particularly vulnerable, or anyone who simply wants to be extra careful, there are precautions that can be taken.
“First avoid areas of standing water," McNary says. “We’re talking about mud puddles, slow, sluggish moving rivers, public square fountains that are not really active and aerated. All of these present breeding grounds for the mosquito. That’s probably the first and foremost concern."
Make sure to pack plenty of insect repellent. “And cover your potentially affected areas," he says. “Cover down to your wrists. Don’t wear shorts if you can help it if you’re an at-risk person. ... And use light clothing whenever possible. Mosquitoes are more attracted to darker clothing."
Make sure there is netting on windows and doors, he says, and consider moving birdbaths or even potted plants — any object where water might accumulate and attract mosquitoes.
Durazo of Allianz Global Assistance, USA, says travelers choosing to cancel trips because of worries about Zika have tended to be those headed on vacation rather than traveling for work. In either case, if there’s some uncertainty, “travel insurance can help with either business or leisure travelers. ... It’s important that people read their travel insurance policies, so they understand what’s covered and not covered, and call if they have questions.’’
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