The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for travelers to Bali, Indonesia due to an increased number of cases of Zika being reported in returning travelers.
While local authorities have not declared a public health epidemic of Zika on the island, international health authorities reported small clusters of travel-associated Zika cases linked to Bali.
Zika is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and spread from person to person through sex.
For the general population, Zika is typically mild or symptom-free and manageable with routine precautions. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika. When symptoms do occur, they are typically mild and resolve without medical treatment. In a small number of cases, Zika poses a risk to pregnant women and those trying to conceive. It is associated with affecting the development of a fetus particularly in the 1st or 2nd trimester, and in limited reported cases, associated with sexual transmission.
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Guidance for All Travelers:
· Prevent mosquito bites during and for 3 weeks after travel (even if you feel fine) to protect your family
· Use U.S. CDC recommended , EPA-registered repellents, applying at intervals recommended in packaging to exposed skin
· DEET, recommended 20-30% concentration, is safe for children of any age—apply to your own hands first, then to the child.
· Wear long sleeves/pants, and consider treating your clothing with permethrin, stay in accommodations with screens, modify outdoor activities in morning and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active.
· Practice safe sex (condoms) or abstain after travel: males, 3 months; females, 2 months.
· Seek medical care promptly if you develop fever, rash, headache, joint/muscle pain, or red eyes. The Health Unit team will offer advice and testing based off individual risk factors, and U.S. CDC guidelines on testing and monitoring.
Guidance for Pregnant Patients and Their Male Partners:
· Avoid travel to Bali if possible, during periods of identified transmission.
· If travel is unavoidable, strictly follow prevention steps below.
· Male partners of pregnant women should abstain from unprotected intercourse for the remainder of the pregnancy
Guidance for Those Planning Pregnancy:
· Consider delaying conception after returning from Bali (males- 3 months; females- 2 months)