Government Officials, Doctors Discuss Zika-Related Travel Warnings for New Yorkers

HARLEM, NY — Government officials and medical professionals held a community meeting in Harlem on Tuesday to discuss travel warnings related to the Zika Virus.

Democratic Nominee for New York's 13th Congressional District Adriano Espaillat and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Mary Bassett held the meeting at Pediatrics 2000 on 135th street and Broadway. During the meeting officials and doctors told community members that they should not visit areas affected by Zika if they are pregnant or trying to conceive.

"If you are pregnant or trying to conceive you should not travel to Zika-affected areas," Espaillat said in a statement. "We need to ensure that everyone in the community knows the risks associated with Zika, so they can make informed decisions."

As of Aug. 26 the health department has recorded 531 total cases of Zika, 489 of which are travel-related, according to the department's website. Of those 531 recorded cases, 56 of them are of pregnant women. New York City was also the location of the first recorded sexual transmission of the virus from a woman to a man.

Due to growing fears of Zika, women are asking for Zika tests at an increasing rate, Bassett said.

"I am troubled by the number of Zika test requests our call center receives for pregnant women," said Bassett in a statement. "That number now stands at more than 4,000 pregnant women who were exposed to Zika, with an overwhelming majority exposed in a Zika affected area. Our message is clear: protect your baby. You and your partner should not travel to a Zika-affected area if you are pregnant or trying to conceive."

So far there have been zero cases of a New Yorker obtaining the Zika virus from a local mosquito. All of the cases have been either from mosquitos in Zika-affected areas or sexually transmitted, according to health department data.

According to the health department the majority of travel-related cases of Zika have come from people taking trips to the Dominican Republic. The health department has recorded 273 cases of Zika from the Dominican Republic substantially greater than the 44 from Jamaica and Puerto Rico which tied for second.

"Our message as doctors is straight forward and clear: if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you should not travel to Zika affected countries this year," said Dr. Juan Tapia Mendoza in a statement. "I see dozens of patients that live in this community everyday, and I want to make sure they are properly educated on the risks Zika presents for those who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant."

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