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Travel from the U.S. to The Bahamas is common in the summer months.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued a press release on Tuesday warning Americans traveling to The Bahamas that a local transmission of Zika has been reported on the island of New Providence, including the capital city of Nassau.
In the statement obtained by MRCTV, the CDC categorizes the travel health notice as an “Alert Level 2,” where travelers are advised to “practice enhanced precautions.”
These precautions include protecting oneself from mosquitos altogether by using insect repellant during and three weeks after travel, covering exposed skin, and avoiding bugs by staying indoors.
The CDC writes that mosquitoes that spread Zika are “aggressive daytime biters” but also bite at night.
“There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus,” the press release reads. “The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites.”
Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should not travel to any area with Zika.
Couples are encouraged to use condoms or to not have sex whatsoever, as sexual transmission of the disease is also possible.
Other destinations listed as “Level 2” for Zika include the Cayman Islands, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and American Samoa.
No country has been labeled "Level 3" where Americans would be instructed to “avoid all nonessential travel.”