Zika Virus Information
Background
- The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a travel notice for the Zika virus. In a notice posted to its website the agency says pregnant women and women considering becoming pregnant should discuss travel plans with their doctors to assess their risk. It also recommends these women "consider postponing travel to areas where the Zika virus is circulating in the Americas. "If travel cannot be postponed then strict mosquito bite prevention measures should be followed to protect themselves against bites."
- Government of Canada puts the risk at a Level2 - Practice special precautions. This notice recommends that travellers practice special health precautions. There is no vaccine or medication that protects against Zika virus infection. A notice at this level would be issued if there is an outbreak in a limited geographic location, a newly identified disease in the region or a change in the existing pattern of disease. Learn more here.
- WHO declared a Public Health emergency of international concern after a substantial spike of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome in the Americas that is suspected to be linked to Zika virus and has spread to more than 25 countries and territories in the region. The following link takes you to all WHO information and its response on this Public Health emergency.
March 8 2016: WHO Advises Pregnant Women To Avoid Zika-affected Areas - The American Center of Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel guidance related to the Zika virus for 14 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Colombia, Mexica and Panama. The CDC says pregnant women should consider postponing travel to the areas where virus transmission is ongoing."Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first, and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip," the CDC said. Women trying to become pregnant should consult with their doctor before travelling to these areas, and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites, the agency said.
Travel Health Insurance:
- Manulife anticipates there will be questions about travel insurance coverage underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (“Manulife”) and by its wholly owned subsidiary, First North American Insurance Company (collectively, “Manulife Financial”) and how coverage for your clients may be impacted.
To help answer questions about benefits provided by Manulife Financial travel insurance policies, the following link will confirm the coverage that can be provided during each of the four levels of risk. Learn more here
Regulators:
- TICO has issued a bulletin to remind all Ontario travel retailers and travel wholesalers the importance of being aware of their obligations under the following Sections of Ontario Regulation 26/05:
Disclosure Requirement re: Zika Virus
(Sections 36 and 37 of the Regulation)
Details here
RELATED STORY - OPC & BCCP - No Information was available at time of publication
Airline and Tour Operators
- Transat is offering pregnant women who produce a medical note confirming pregnancy, alternative destinations or dates to destinations in Mexico, Dominican, Panama, St Maarten, Haiti, Martinique/Guadeloupe, Honduras or Colombia.
- Air Canada is offering pregnant women and Travel Companions travelling to affected countries before July a free change of flight within the validity period of the ticket or a change of destination with change fees waived provided you are travelling within the validity period of your ticket. Fare differences will apply.
- WestJet passengers do not have to produce a doctor's note if they want to change or cancel their bookings for upcoming travel to Zika-infected areas, but they are encouraged to call the airline.
- United Airlines customers booked to fly to areas affected by the virus can reschedule or get refunds. American Airlines says it will give refunds to pregnant women who were planning to travel to parts of Central America. The United Airlines offer includes any country covered by a CDC travel notice.
- Delta Air Lines said the carrier was monitoring the situation but not yet offering waivers.
- Southwest Airlines said it was sticking to its normal policy, which lets customers who cancel ahead of time reuse the value of their tickets.
- Sunquest has not put out a policy but is allowing pregnant customers to cancel, says TravelBrands CEO Zeina Gedeon.
- Sunwing Vacations said with concerns surrounding the Zika virus and its potential risk to pregnant women, Sunwing Vacations has established a policy to address the concerns of pregnant women and their travel companion who would like to cancel their trip or change the details of their booking. For customers who have booked prior to January 31, 2016 due to travel who have not purchased the Sunwing Worry-Free Cancellation Waiver or trip cancellation insurance, and have been advised against traveling to affected areas by their physician, we are requesting that they obtain a medical note. Upon review of their individual circumstances and provided they have a medical note, Sunwing will allow customers to make changes to their travel plans for no additional fees or cancel their trip for a full refund. More Info
- Royal Caribbean is offering any pregnant women “who do not feel comfortable” sailing to the countries an alternative itinerary or a cruise credit good for two years.
- Norwegian and Carnival are both allowing pregnant cruisers to postpone their trip or change itineraries.
Your clients will likely have questions about the disease and its ability to spread while travelling. You may want to direct them to some of the links we have provided in this bulletin
ACTA recommends that agents check with respective tour operators and carriers directly to determine their most up-to-date policies regarding refunds and exchanges related to the virus as this issue evolves. ACTA members should be assured that we will monitor the situation closely and report back as more information becomes available.
Questions: Contact actacan@acta.ca