Zika ‘sex ban’ for British tourists in Florida

ABOUT 50,000 British holidaymakers in Florida should avoid unprotected sex because of the risk from Zika virus, according to government advice.

An outbreak of four mosquito-transmitted cases yesterday prompted Public Health England (PHE) to advise pregnant women to consider postponing non-essential travel to the southern US state.

For the large numbers of British tourists already there, the advice suggests that they should refrain from sex without a condom for eight weeks, even if neither partner has symptoms of the disease and there is no prospect of a pregnancy.

PHE advises that males returning from a Zika-affected area with symptoms of the virus, which include a rash, itching and headaches, should refrain from unprotected sex for a full six months to avoid onward transmission.

The guidance mirrors that given to Andy Murray and other members of the British Olympic team travelling to Rio. More than 1,650 cases of Zika have been diagnosed in the US. However, this is thought to be the first time the disease has been spread by local insects, rather than as a result of foreign travel or sexual intercourse.

It means the outbreak, as in Brazil, could be far harder to contain.

Florida has now announced aggressive mosquito-control measures, although the evidence from South America, where the outbreak started, is that these have limited benefit.

Zika causes only a mild illness in most people, but the infection in pregnant women has been strongly linked to foetal microcephaly, or abnormal smallness of the head in babies, and other severe birth defects. It can also cause miscarriage.

The British tour operators Thomas Cook, Thompson & First Choice and Virgin Holidays said yesterday that they would grant free holiday cancellations or amendments for pregnant tourists with trips booked until Dec 31.

More than 50 people have already tested positive for the virus in Britain after visiting infected countries since the outbreak started in May last year.