Brokers are advised to prepare for a growing number of Canadian travellers concerned about the Zika virus, enquiring about insurance cover when cancelling a trip.
The Public Health Agency of Canada last week advised that although there have been travel-related cases of Zika virus reported in Canada in returned travellers from countries where the virus is known to circulate, there have been no reported cases of locally acquired Zika virus in Canada.
But the agency did recommend that pregnant women and those trying to become pregnant reassess their travel options if planning to go to a region where the virus is present.
Local news sources are reporting that would be travellers are cancelling trips, including one pregnant Edmonton couple who cancelled a trip to the Caribbean, but were denied a claim by their travel insurance provider. Because the official channels, such as the Public Health Agency, are not yet advising against travel, insurers are within their rights to deny a claim.
However, WHO (World Health Organization) director-general, Margaret Chan, will convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus on Monday to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Zika infection is caused by a virus which is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms can include fever, headache, conjunctivitis and rash, along with joint and muscle pain. The illness is typically mild and lasts only a few days.
But in Brazil, there has recently been a significant increase in number of babies born with birth defects (congenital malformations), such as infants born with an abnormally small head and microcephaly (an underdeveloped brain). The Ministry of Health of Brazil recently identified a possible relationship between Zika virus infection and the increase in the number of microcephaly cases.
