September 25, 2014 
In This Week's Issue:

Chikungunya Virus: What Does It Mean for Travelers? 

 

By Mark Chesnut

Chikungunya Virus Particles

 

Ebola may be making headlines around the world, but the chikungunya virus is a close second in terms of current health scares in some parts of the world - including the Americas.

 

The most common symptoms of chikungunya  - an illness caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites - are fever and joint pain, although it can also cause headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. Chikungunya disease rarely results in death, but the symptoms can be severe enough to put more than a dent in a business or leisure trip. In some people, the joint pain can last for months or even years.

 

As of August 29, local transmission of the virus had been identified in 31 countries and territories in the Americas. A total of 650,468 suspected and 8,899 laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya cases had been reported from these areas, according to Belsie González, a spokesperson for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

 

Among the destinations in the western hemisphere with reported cases are the United States, numerous Caribbean islands, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. Travelers to parts of Africa, Asia and islands in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific may also be at risk.

 

Traveler Risks & Protection

"Travelers to affected countries should be concerned," González says. "CDC recommends that travelers to the affected countriesprotect themselves from mosquito bites. Some travelers may be more likely to get chikungunya, have severe disease or be at higher risk for other reasons. CDC advises travelers in high-risk groups to discuss their travel plans with their health care provider." People at higher risk can include those with arthritis, serious underlying medical conditions, those who are over age 65 and travelers who spend a lot of time outdoors in affected areas.

Insect Repellents

 

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the current start of the period of higher dengue circulation in Central America and the Caribbean (in the later months this year) makes mosquito control efforts even more important. It urges affected nations to increase "vector density reduction efforts" - basically, to ramp up measures to decrease mosquito populations. PAHO is also calling for travel clinics, travel agencies, medical services, airports, airlines, train stations and bus stations to provide warnings to travelers, as well as tips on how to avoid infection.

 

There is currently no vaccine or medicine to prevent chikungunya; the only way to prevent it is to prevent mosquito bites. Among the tips from the CDC to stay safe:

  • Use air conditioning and/or window and door screens.
  • Don't leave standing water around inside hotel rooms or other facilities.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when possible.
  • Use insect repellents.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, meanwhile, recommends that travelers consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic at least six weeks before visiting an affected destination. And PAHO recommends that any traveler showing symptoms of chikungunya seek professional health care.

 

To find the latest information about which countries have reported cases of chikungunya, visit the CDC's Website: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/index.html

 

Chikungunya Virus Particles by Cynthia Goldsmith - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via Wikimedia Commons; Insect Repellents by KaurJmeb via Wikimedia Commons

                                                                                                
News from our Partners
(Click the headlines to read full stories)

 

DeltaDelta Expands Flights Between U.S. and Costa Rica: Seasonal service will connect Liberia and San Jose with Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and Los Angeles, with 40 flights during peak season.

 

Delta Air Lines Introduces New Fall-Inspired BusinessElite Menus: Award-winning chefs Michelle Bernstein and Linton Hopkins have created new menus for select Delta flights from the U.S. to South America and from Atlanta to Europe.

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New Techniques Speed Healing: One patient explains how New York orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow helped his shoulder injury heal

 

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Travel News

Hurricane Odile Update

Los Cabos International Airport and Manuel Marquez De Leon International (in La Paz, Mexico) remain closed after damage from Hurricane Odile, including roof detachment and ceiling panel collapses. The airports are expected to be back in working condition by the end of September. 

 

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America

Delta Air Lines affiliate Compass Airlines will add two new routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): four daily flights from LAX to Dallas/Fort Worth beginning November 3, and three daily flights between LAX and San Francisco beginning on April 7. Compass will also add a third daily flight between LAX and Austin, Texas on November 2.

 

VivaAerobus

Mexico

VivaAerobus will add routes between Houston, Texas' Bush International Airport and the Mexican cities of Guadalajara (beginning November 20) and Cancun (beginning December 2).

 

Caribbean and Central America

On November 1, JetBlue will launch service from Boston (Massachusetts, U.S.) to Liberia, Costa Rica; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and St. Lucia with a weekly Saturday flight on each route.

 

Southwest Airlines will begin non-stop service between Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Chicago's Midway International Airport on November 2.

 

International Connections

Swissair will expand its Zurich, Switzerland-Miami (Florida, U.S.) route to 14 weekly flights, beginning November 6. 

 

Airline Alliance News

ETIHAD and Korean Air expanded their codeshare agreement, with Korean Air now operating ETIHAD flights from Korea's Seoul Incheon International Airport and ETIHAD now operating Korean Air flights out of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

 

Air France expanded its codeshare agreement with Alitalia, which sees the Italian airline operating Air France flights from Rome to the U.S. cities of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, and to Toronto, Canada.

 

China Airlines and WestJet will begin their codeshare partnership on October 1 with flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the Canadian cities of Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Colombia; and from Vancouver to Calgary, Edmonton (Alberta) and Toronto.

 

Other Airline News

A walkout by Air France pilots has grounded more than half of the airline's flights this week. The pilots announced they will continue the strike at least through Friday.

 

AirTran Airways will become fully integrated into Southwest Airlines by the end of the year, with the AirTran's final flight operating on December 28, 2014.

 

Airport News

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Florida, Miami area) has opened its extended, 8,000-foot-long south runway. The addition will allow JetBlue to grow to 100 flights per day by 2018 as well as foster fewer delays airport-wide.

 

The primary runway will be closed at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport through the end of this month, as the airport finalizes renovations. Flights will be cut back by around 15% during this time.

 

Loyalty Program News

Starwood Preferred Guest members can earn double points on stays of two nights or more, with triple points for stays that include a Friday or Saturday night, through December 15 at participating properties.

 

Starwood Preferred Guests can earn triple points when dining at participating hotel restaurants through December 30.

City Express Central de Abastos

 

United Airlines MileagePlus members can earn up to 35,000 bonus miles for round-trip flights between the U.S. or Canada and London through December 12.

 

Club Carlson members can redeem 25% fewer points for award stays at participating hotels in North, South and Central America through November 30.

 

Hotel News

Hoteles City Express opened the 124-room City express Central de Abastos in Mexico City.

 

Hotel Pipeline

Hilton Worldwide announced plans to open 40 hotels and resorts in Latin America by the end of 2016. Hilton will develop all of its brands with a focus on Hampton Hotels and Garden Inn.

 

Madrid's NH Hotel Group will partner with Preferred Hotel Group to launch premium hotel and resort brand NH Collection. The brand will encompass 14 hotels and resorts in Spain, Italy, Mexico and Argentina currently operating under the Preferred brand, as well as six additional hotels in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.

 

The 202-room Guayaquil Marriott will open in Ecuador in 2016. The hotel will be within walking distance from the city's shopping, dining and entertainment centers and will include a restaurant, bar, lounge, marketplace, fitness center and pool.

 

Travel Services

US Airways will now allow passengers to search award and upgrade data via ExpertFlyer.com, joining American Airlines in partnership with the air travel information tool. 

 

VivaAerobus by Retinaboy via Wikimedia Commons; City Express Central de Abastos, courtesy of City Express Central de Abastos  

 
 
 
 
 
 
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