MARAD: Zika Virus precautions update

1. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS. THIS UPDATE IS PROVIDED FOLLOWING RELEASE OF NEW INFORMATION REGARDING THE VIRUS.
2. MARAD ADVISORIES ARE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV/NEWSROOM/ADVISORY AND ON THE MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION WEB SITE AT MSI.NGA.MIL/NGAPORTAL/MSI.PORTAL. SELECT BROADCAST WARNINGS, SCROLL DOWN TO SEARCH BOX, AND SELECT MARAD ADVISORIES.
3. THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) RECENTLY ISSUED SEVERAL TRAVEL NOTICES AND A HEALTH ADVISORY ON RECOGNIZING, MANAGING AND REPORTING ZIKA VIRUS INFECTIONS IN TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM CAPE VERDE, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO, AND SEVERAL PACIFIC ISLANDS. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS DECLARED THAT THE RECENT CLUSTER OF NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS IN LATIN AMERICA - BUT NOT THE ZIKA VIRUS ITSELF - CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.
4. ZIKA IS A VIRUS THAT IS PRIMARILY SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES AND MAY ALSO BE SPREAD VIA BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, SEXUAL CONTACT AND FROM MOTHER TO CHILD DURING PREGNANCY. ONLY ABOUT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE INFECTED WITH THE ZIKA VIRUS WILL EXHIBIT ANY SYMPTOMS. THOSE WHO DO MAY EXPERIENCE FEVER, JOINT PAIN, CONJUNCTIVITIS, MUSCLE PAIN AND/OR A HEADACHE. THE CDC IS ALSO INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN BIRTH DEFECTS AND ZIKA INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY.
5. THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR ZIKA VIRUS. TRAVELERS TO AFFECTED AREAS (SEE HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/GEO/) SHOULD FOCUS ON PREVENTING MOSQUITO BITES BY WEARING LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS, USING EPA RECOMMENDED INSECT SPRAY PER LABEL DIRECTIONS AND TAKING OTHER PRECAUTIONS LISTED AT HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/PREVENTION/.
6. ZIKA VIRUS CAN BE SPREAD BY MEN TO SEX PARTNERS. CDC RECOMMENDS THAT MEN WHO RESIDE IN OR HAVE TRAVELED TO AN AREA OF ACTIVE ZIKA VIRUS TRANSMISSION EITHER ABSTAIN FROM SEX OR USE CONDOMS CONSISTENTLY AND CORRECTLY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ZIKA VIRUS CAN BE SPREAD BY WOMEN TO SEX PARTNERS. CDC RECOMMENDS, HOWEVER, THAT IF ANYONE HAS ANY CONCERNS, THEY SHOULD EITHER ABSTAIN FROM SEX OR USE CONDOMS (SEE HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/TRANSMISSION/SEXUAL-TRANSMISSION.HTML).
7. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/ REGULARLY FOR CURRENT UPDATES ON THIS HEALTH THREAT AND MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN 01-16 (CHANGE 2) AT WWW.USCG.MIL/MSIB FOR INFORMATION ON MARITIME INDUSTRY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR VESSEL CREWMEMBERS OR PASSENGERS WHO MAY BE EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF ZIKA VIRUS.
8. MARINERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO VISIT HTTP://WWWNC.CDC.GOV/TRAVEL/NOTICES/ FOR ADDITIONAL CDC TRAVEL HEALTH NOTICES.
9. THIS ADVISORY IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
10. CANCEL THE FOLLOWING MARAD ADVISORY: 2016-01 (ZIKA VIRUS PRECAUTIONS).
11. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT CAMERON NARON, DIRECTOR OF MARITIME SECURITY, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, CODE: MAR-420, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-1883, FAX 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR .