Flag operators are requested to forward this advisory to their ships by the most expeditious means

Original warning text

ZIKA VIRUS PRECAUTIONS.
1. U.S. FLAG OPERATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD
   THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST
   EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.
2. MARAD ADVISORIES ARE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD
   WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV/NEWSROOM/ADVISORY
   AND ON THE MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION WEB SITE
   AT MSI.NGA.MIL. SELECT BROADCAST WARNINGS,
   SCROLL DOWN TO SEARCH BOX AND SELECT MARAD ADVISORIES.
3. THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
   PREVENTION (CDC) RECENTLY ISSUED SEVERAL TRAVEL
   NOTICES AND A HEALTH ADVISORY ON RECOGNIZING,
   MANAGING AND REPORTING ZIKA VIRUS INFECTIONS IN
   TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA,
   SOUTH AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO.
   IN ADDITION, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
   HAS DESIGNATED ZIKA VIRUS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
   EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.
4. ZIKA IS A VIRUS THAT IS SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES
   AND MAY ALSO BE SPREAD VIA BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS,
   SEXUAL CONTACT AND FROM MOTHER TO CHILD DURING
   PREGNANCY. ONLY ABOUT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE
   INFECTED WITH THE ZIKA VIRUS WILL EXHIBIT ANY
   SYMPTOMS. THOSE WHO DO MAY EXPERIENCE FEVER,
   JOINT PAIN, CONJUNCTIVITIS, MUSCLE PAIN AND/OR
   A HEADACHE. THE CDC IS ALSO INVESTIGATING A
   POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN BIRTH DEFECTS AND ZIKA
   INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY.
5. THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR ZIKA VIRUS. TRAVELERS
   TO AFFECTED AREAS (SEE HTTP:WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/GEO/)
   SHOULD FOCUS ON PREVENTING MOSQUITO BITES BY
   WEARING LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS, USING EPA
   RECOMMENDED INSECT SPRAY PER LABEL DIRECTIONS
   AND TAKING OTHER PRECAUTIONS LISTED AT
   HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/PREVENTION/.
6. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT
   HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/ZIKA/ REGULARLY FOR CURRENT
   UPDATES ON THIS HEALTH THREAT AND MARINE SAFETY
   INFORMATION BULLETIN 01-16 AT WWW.USCG.MIL/MSIB
   FOR INFORMATION ON MARITIME INDUSTRY REPORTING
   REQUIREMENTS FOR VESSEL CREWMEMBERS OR PASSENGERS
   WHO MAY BE EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF ZIKA VIRUS.
7. MARINERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO VISIT
   HTTP://WWWNC.CDC.GOV/TRAVEL/NOTICES/
   FOR ADDITIONAL CDC TRAVEL HEALTH NOTICES.
8. THIS ADVISORY IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL
   REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
9. CANCEL THE FOLLOWING MARAD ADVISORIES:
   A. 2006-01 (ACTIVATION OF THE NATO SHIPPING CENTER).
   B. 2007-01 (REPLACEMENT OF ATP 2 VOL II NCAGS).
   C. 2011-03 (GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING TO OR
      FROM PORTS IN JAPAN).
   D. 2012-01 (VESSELS TRANSITING NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
      FROM JAPAN TO U.S. WEST COAST).
   E. 2013-04 (CORONAVIRUS).
   F. 2014-01 (GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING AND
      OPERATING IN THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA).
   G. 2014-02 (EBOLA VIRUS PRECAUTIONS).
   H. 2014-03 (GUIDANCE TO VESSELS AND PORT
      OPERATORS THAT VISIT OR RECEIVE VESSELS
      TRANSITING FROM WEST AFRICAN NATIONS AFFECTED
      BY EBOLA).
   I. 2015-02 (TIANJIN, CHINA EXPLOSIONS).
10. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY,
    CONTACT CAMERON NARON, DIRECTOR OF MARITIME SECURITY,
    MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, CODE: MAR-420,
    1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590,
    PHONE: 202 366 1883, FAX: 202 366 3954,
    TELEX: 710 822 9426 (MARAD DOT WSH),
    E-MAIL: [email protected].