CDC Issues Travel Notice for the Cayman Islands, Other Caribbean Locations

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Brittany Arce and her family got exciting news
just a few months ago.

“I found out I was pregnant 13 weeks ago today. We have a
three-and-a-half year old and we’ve been trying for 18 months. So we
are very excited,” said Arce.

The Arce’s anniversary is next month and they had a trip planned to
the Cayman Islands with their son, but that all changed with reports
of the Zika virus. The Arces decided not to risk it.

“My husband called and we were a little bit worried about
because it was an expensive trip. It was going to be for eight days
and they ended up giving us a full refund. All we had to say was Zika
and pregnancy and there were no questions asked,” said Arce.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services says as of Aug. 5,
there were 33 travel associated Zika virus disease reported cases in
the Tar Heel State.

The CDC just put a travel notice out for the Cayman Islands this
past Thursday after a transmission case was reported there.  The CDC
issued travel notices for more than two dozen Caribbean locations
including Cuba, Saint Lucia, Fiji and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Arce says her husband called the Marriott and asked questions.

“He said, ‘We heard about the Zika case and we thought there
was only one’ and they said, ‘Oh yeah, there’s actually been
three,’” said Arce.

It’s a chance Arce is not willing to take.

“We’re like it’s ok,” said Arce. “Don’t even want to risk it.
It’s not worth it after you tried so hard to have a baby.”