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WHO declares Antigua and Barbuda ‘Zika-free’

News
James Chapple
23 October 2018

Antigua and Barbuda have been declared Zika-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Freemans Bay in Antigua

The Caribbean islands, both popular honeymoon destinations, have been removed from the WHO’s Zika virus country classification scheme.


The move come after the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) confirmed transmission of the virus in the Caribbean had been interrupted for more than a year, or had fallen to undetectable levels, therefore posing “very little risk” to residents and visitors.


CARPHA’s findings have been corroborated by data from Canada, the UK, Europe and the US, said the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.


This data showed no Zika detected for more than 12 months in travellers returning from the Caribbean to these countries.