Manitoba warns travellers  to take precautions to avoid contracting Zika virus.

If you are travelling to Africa, southeast Asia, the Ocean Pacific Islands, South America, Central America, southern Florida or the Caribbean Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer is warning you  to take precautions to avoid contracting the Zika virus.

Zika virus infection is caused by a virus related to dengue and West Nile virus and is primarily transmitted from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito found in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

While most spread is linked to the bite of an infected mosquito, there are also indications that it can be transmitted by blood transfusion or through sexual activity. 

Symptoms may include a low-grade fever, rash, muscle pain, short-term joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), eye pain, chills and headache.  Less common non-specific symptoms may include weakness, lack of energy, sore throat, diarrhea and nausea/vomiting.

Only about 20 per cent of infected individuals develop symptoms and these usually appear between three and 12 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.  Symptoms are typically mild and last between two and seven days.

You should take precautions by using insect repellents that contain DEET and Icaridin, wear protective clothing, use bed nets and ensure mosquitoes are kept out of living areas.

Women who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant should avoid travel to an area affected by the ongoing Zika virus outbreak or an area at risk, Women should avoid getting pregnant  for two months after return from said area(s).

For men who show no symptoms, condom use is recommended for a period of six months after returning from an area affected by the ongoing Zika virus outbreak or an area at risk.

Those attempting to become pregnant who cannot delay travel or pregnant women who have travelled to an affected area are encouraged to discuss followup health-care options with their health-care provider.

At present, travel-related, congenital and sexually-transmitted cases of Zika virus have been documented in Canada.  The cool climate in Manitoba and elsewhere in the country has prevented the establishment of these mosquito species, resulting in the likelihood of local Zika virus transmission due to mosquitoes is very low.

Presently, it is unknown whether local mosquito species could play a role in Zika virus transmission.  However, research is ongoing.