Media advisory
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
No Zika virus on Niue
While the mosquito-borne Zika virus is spreading across the Americas and there have been outbreaks in the Pacific
Islands, there is absolutely no sign of it on Niue and it is perfectly safe to travel there.
Zika virus is a rare tropical disease that can cause mild illness and possible birth defects, which is transmitted
through bites from the same kind of mosquitoes that can spread other tropical diseases, like dengue fever, chikungunya
and yellow fever.
There have been no diagnosed cases of Zika virus on Niue, and there are currently no public health warnings for the
island. Most people infected with the Zika virus do not know they even have it as they only develop mild symptoms of
rash, fever, joint pain and red eyes.
Being a coral ‘rock’ in the middle of the ocean, Niue does not have an overabundance of mosquitoes, but as at any time
on a tropical island travellers are advised to use insect repellent, or cover up at times of the day when mosquitoes are
most prevalent.
Ends
To learn more about going to Niue, please visit the Niue Tourism website:http://www.niueisland.com