A travel alert from the Centers for Disease Control about the mosquito-borne virus, called Zika, raised concerns about the contraction of the disease worldwide. While the news got to be publicized in 2016, the Zika virus is still around and remains on the CDC’s radar.
So should you worry about the virus on your trip to Greece?
While Greece has mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, and other unusual tropical diseases, there are no reported cases of Zika in Greece so far.
Could Greece get Zika-carrying mosquitoes?
While Greece is not on the CDC’s list of countries with the Zika virus or countries at risk, travelers from other nations could become infected with the Zika virus and then travel to Greece. If Greek mosquitoes bite that person, the disease could spread to Greece and the Greek islands.
More about the Zika virus
The CDC is warning about traveling to areas affected by the Zika virus. It especially cautions pregnant women and women who want to become pregnant, because the disease can cause microcephaly in the baby, a disorder that results in a malformed brain and head. The first American case of microcephaly caused by Zika was reported in Hawaii. While some doubted the connection between Zika and the birth defect, US researchers found the virus both in the mother who had spent part of her pregnancy in Brazil and in the baby.
The CDC warning applies to all women who are pregnant at any time during their pregnancies and also to those who are considering becoming pregnant, and they recommend that these women contact their doctors before traveling to an area with Zika.
The Zika virus has been around for years, but it has been largely ignored as the symptoms it causes are often mild and go away without treatment. Only recently has the connection between Zika and sometimes fatal microcephaly in infants been recognized. The mosquitoes that transmit Zika are mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
Avoid exposure to Zika in Greece
What can you do to avoid Zika while traveling in Greece, even though you remain Zika free? The precautions are the same as you would take to avoid any type of mosquito-borne illness.
- Use mosquito repellants that you like enough to actually use. Bring your own supply. If Zika is discovered in Greece during your trip, repellants can become rare and difficult to find on the shelves.
- Cover as much skin as possible with long-sleeved blouses and shirts, and long pants and socks. You may want to consider wearing a hat with a neck flap, as this is an area that is often unprotected and is particularly tempting for insects. Planning to sleep with the windows open so you can hear the waves at night? A long-sleeved nightshirt or other nightwear may help.
- Avoid areas where mosquitoes are known to congregate. Greece is fortunate that many areas are subject to strong winds and dry conditions, which do not encourage the development of mosquito larvae, especially on many of the drier Greek islands. However, any place that has standing water can become a haven for these disease-carrying insects, so everyone should be reasonably careful.
- If you go to a site that is near a swampy area, try to do so during the heat of the day, when bites are less likely.
Plan your trip to Greece
Here are some resources to help you plan your trip to Greece:
- Find and compare flights to and from Greece: Athens and other flights to Greece. The Greek airport code for Athens International Airport is ATH.
- Book your day trips around Athens.
