Experts warn against visiting Disney World due to Zika fears
<p>If you’ve got a big US holiday planned with the family coming up, you’ll definitely want to read this. Experts are warning against travel to Disney World, fearing the Zika virus may soon make its way up to the US state of Florida.</p>
<p>The “Happiest Place on Earth” has long been a favourite destination of families around the world, but travellers are being advised to avoid the amusement park for fears that Zika may start spreading to Florida, Texas, Louisiana and other southern US states in the next few months.</p>
<p>Given these states have a high population of the yellow fever mosquito (the main species responsible for Zika transmission), it’s expected they will be the first to succumb to the insidious virus.</p>
<p>Scientists believe that while the majority of people shouldn’t be affected by the virus, those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should be very cautious in choosing their holiday destinations.</p>
<p>Speaking to the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3614551/Zika-expert-warns-Britons-think-twice-trips-Disney-World-virus-set-reach-US.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Daily Mail</span></strong></em></a>, Zika-expert Professor Jimmy Whitworth of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said that those travelling to Disney World within the next few weeks should be fine, but any later and it might be time to consider changing their plans. “We don’t think there’s any Zika in mosquitoes in the US right now,” he said. “But will there be, in two or three months’ time? Well, there might be, as the situation might change.”</p>
<p>The virus, which causes microcephaly in newborns, is currently present in much of the Caribbean, parts of Central and South America and the Pacific Islands. For a full list of areas affected, <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-zika-countries.htm" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</p>
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