In view of the presence of the first imported case of the Zika virus in Peru, the Ministries of Health (MINSA) and Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) have informed the general public about the virus and steps being taken by the ministries, to ensure that tourism doesn’t get affected. To date, the intensified prevention and control measures established by the Ministry of Health have prevented the propagation of the virus in the country.
The official advisory notice issued by the minitries include the following information:
1. The Zika virus is contracted by bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying the virus. Normally, patients require general outpatient care.
2. Peru is prepared to deal with the threat of this virus and its authorities have strengthened their prevention, control and monitoring measures as a result of the appearance of the only imported case identified to date. There is no native transmission of the Zika virus in Peru.
3. In the interests of the normal operation of the tourism sector and the peace of mind of national and foreign tourists and tour operators in general, the authorities of both ministries have been working together to provide accurate, timely and ongoing information on the actions being carried out nationwide to prevent the propagation of Zika in Peru.
4. It is important to emphasise that areas at an altitude of over 2,500 metres above sea level are free from the presence of the Zika-carrying mosquito, and consequently all tourist activities in these areas will proceed as normal.
5. MINSA and MINCETUR are working with the private companies in the tourism sector to roll out a schedule of fumigation for hotels, restaurants and other tourist establishments in the north and the Amazon areas of Peru as a preventive measure.
6. With regard to the single case of Zika reported in Peru, the authorities wish to reiterate the fact that this is an imported case involving a citizen from another country and that to date no native cases or incidents of contagion have been reported within our national borders.
