Zika outbreak affects business travel sector

Officials advise employers to proceed with caution when they send their employees on business trips due to uncertain information about the viral effects

 According to the opinion of Denise Dadika, partner at Epstein Becker and Green, despite Zika threating the health of new-born babies, pregnant women should not be kept from traveling, as this prevention measure could trigger gender or pregnancy discrimination.

Nevertheless, if an employee does not want to travel to an affected area, the employer should not insist. If the employee decides on that matter, the employer can be absolved of any liability.

"Because it's probably a small portion of the workforce, employers need to be sensitive, understand the concerns and if at all possible to put those employees at ease to make other arrangements," Dadika declared.

WHO declared Zika a global public health emergency on February 1^st. According to the State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council survey data, 40 per cent of multinationals, universities and nonprofits employers allow their staff to chose on traveling in the affected areas on business purposes.

As there is no vaccine against the disease, Dadika advises companies to provide information to all employees that want to travel to the affected regions about virus spreading and necessary preventive measures.

30 countries in Latin America are currently under alert due to mosquito-borne Zika virus. Brazil has recorded the highest disease incidence, with 508 confirmed and 4.000 suspected cases.