Zika virus impacting Canadians’ travel plans, insurance purchases
With the winter holidays just around the corner, vacation season is ramping up once again. Unlike other years though, many Canadian vacationers and travelers alike have had to factor the threat of the Zika virus into their trip planning process.
According to a study done by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA), 14 per cent of travelers of child-bearing age have altered their travel plans in some way due to the hazardous virus. That is even higher than the 13 per cent who changed their plans because of violent events or civil unrest.
The virus, which broke out in 2015 and caused an epidemic primarily in South America, may have also led to a spike in travel insurance purchases. THIA reports that the number of Canadians purchasing health insurance experienced a four per cent boost in 2015, jumping up to 78 per cent from 74 per cent in 2014.
Many Canadians have already been directly affected by Zika. Insurance Business notes that this country has seen 359 travel-related Zika cases, as well as two sexually transmitted occurrences and two maternal-to-fetal transmission infections taking place.
Since the outbreak began, the Government of Canada has maintained a page with a Zika Travel Health Notice and Recommendations, last updated November 10, 2016. Its recommendations mainly center around precautions for pregnant women and sexually active couples, as their situations give the virus greater potential to spread.
For further information about purchasing travel insurance, THIA offers a consumer brochure that lays out the basics and notes things to watch out for. It highlights pre-existing medical conditions and “eligibility, exclusions, and limitations” as the most important things to know when considering an insurance plan.