US adds Peru to Zika travel warning list

US' Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a travel warning for people travelling to Peru, a destination with the Zika virus.

The CDC on Thursday issued a level 2 travel notice for the Latin American country, alerting travellers to "practice enhanced precautions" after several transmitted Zika infections were reported in the country, EFE news reported.

Health authorities recommended using insect repellent when travelling to areas affected by the virus and continue to use it up to three weeks after returning in order to prevent the disease from spreading to other areas.

CDC recommended that travellers should remain vigilant to the symptoms such as joint pain, fever, rash and irritation.

US health authorities suggest pregnant travellers avoid travelling to countries where local transmission of Zika has been reported.

Infection during pregnancy can cause brain defects in newborn babies.

Sexual transmission of Zika is possible, authorities encouraged travellers to use condoms or not have sex.

The CDC also suggests women infected with the Zika virus to avoid getting pregnant and wait at least eight weeks after their symptoms first appeared.

Zika is mainly spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it could also spread through body fluids as the Zika virus has been detected in urine, blood and saliva.

--IANS

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