The CDC Makes One Big Change To Its Zika Virus Travel Warnings

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made one crucial update Friday to its travel warnings for the 37 countries and territories affected by Zika virus. Instead of issuing a blanket warning against entire countries, the CDC is adjusting their health notices to take into account the area’s elevation. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main mode of Zika virus transmission, does not generally live in areas that are 6,500 feet or more above sea level.

This means women who are pregnant will likely not encounter a mosquito carrying Zika if they stay in high-elevation areas, although the agency notes that the virus can still be transmitted sexually at higher altitudes. Pregnant women are most at risk with Zika virus because it's suspected of causing severe birth defects like microcephaly.