With any travel comes certain health and safety risks.  As many are aware, the Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that has been around for nearly 50 years, but has been spreading rapidly throughout Latin America in the past year - especially in Brazil and Colombia where two IDDSs will be happening this summer.   While both IDDSs are still planning to happen, we do want organizers and participants to be aware of the facts about the virus, its potential correlations, what preventative measures we are taking, and what preventative measures we recommend you take as a traveler to IDDS.

Zikia Virus Facts

A few key facts to know about about Zika according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Zika Virus Fact Page are:

• Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
• People with Zika virus disease usually have symptoms that can include mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.
• There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.
• The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.
• The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Additionally, there are many cases showing the virus can be spread through sexual transmission from male to female as well.  

The long-term effects are still unknown, but the CDC believes there may be a high correlation between the Zika virus and microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and brain, and potentially GBS, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system.

For more the most reliable and up to date information about the Zika virus and its effects, please check the CDC Zika Virus Page.

Preventions IDDS Educación is Taking

IDDS Educación has heeded the advice of local health authorities and has moved the location of their summit from a rural community in Colombia (that had reported a few cases of Zika) to the center of Bogotá in the circus area.  Bogotá is at a high altitude where mosquito borne diseases (such as Zika and Malaria) are less likely to occur.  For more information about the preventative measure being taken at IDDS Educación, please email the organizing team at iddseducacion@mit.edu.

Preventions IDDS Amazon is Taking

IDDS Amazon is set to take place in a rural river community known as Boa Vista do Accara, about 30 minutes outside of Belem, Brazil.   Though there are no airconditioned facilitities available, the main day sessions will be held indoors with fans and good ventilation.  At night, some particpants will be sleeping in host family houses with mosquito nets and some will be sleeping outside in tents.  For more information about the preventative measure being taken at IDDS Amazon, please email the organizing team at idds-amazon-organizers@googlegroups.com.

Recommended Zika Preventions for All Travelers

In line with the CDC, we recommend that if you and/or your loved one is pregnant or in a life stage where you are considering to be pregnant in the future that you do not attend IDDS Educación or IDDS Amazon as the long term effects are still unknown.  IDIN would love to stay engaged with you in other ways, but for the health of you and your family the best prevention you can take is to not travel.

Additionally, the CDC recommends that each traveler take the following preventative measures:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents.
• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items.  Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See product information to learn how long the protection will last.
• If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
• Do NOT use permethrin products directly on skin. They are intended to treat clothing.

Development Context + Practicing Empathy

We know that these travel conditions are not ideal and it is the unfortunate truth that many of our friends in developing communities around the globe are facing daily.  We want all participants and organizers to be empathetic and understanding of the health context many local community members are facing.  Likewise, we also want participants and organizers to be empathetic and understanding towards our travelers who may choose not to come. 

All organizers and participants will recieve a risk acknowledgement form outlining other risks and reccomended preventions in each country that they will need to read through, consider, and sign by May 1.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us.  If it is about a specific summit, please email the appropriate organizing team (IDDS Educación or IDDS Amazon).  If it about IDDS in general, please send an email to the IDDS Program Manager, Sher Vogel.