Agents urged to share Zika advice with clients
UK travel companies are being urged to share the latest advice and updates regarding the Zika virus with their customers.
The outbreak has now reached more than 20 countries, including popular holiday destinations such as Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and most recently Jamaica.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that 3-4 million people could be infected with the virus in the Americas this year.
Most will not even develop symptoms from the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, but Zika has been linked with brain defects in babies, putting pregnant women at risk.
Thomson, Thomas Cook and Virgin have already confirmed that they are giving pregnant women the chance to change or cancel their holidays to the affected countries for no charge.
In a message to its members, ABTA told agents to follow updates from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).
"It is very important that if travel companies are selling these destinations, they make customers who have already booked to travel to these areas aware of this latest advice, and also make them aware of any cancellation and amendment policy," it said.
"Travel companies will try and be as flexible as possible with pregnant customers who had already booked before the advice changed."
For the latest NaTHNaC advice for pregnant women, click here.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025