Two London property professionals, who are expecting their first baby, have cancelled a dream holiday to Barbados because of the Zika virus.
Nadiye Morgan, who is 19 weeks pregnant, and her husband Benedict Gannon had planned to take the two-week trip – which cost £4,000 – on March 3, but decided to cancel following advice from experts in tropical diseases.
Ms Morgan, 30, who has been working at London estate agent Faron Sutaria for over four years, is the manager of its Chelsea office. Prior to that, she worked as a senior sales negotiator at property services company, Pedder. Here she met Gannon, 31, the group’s development director who heads up its land and commercial team.
“We wanted to get away to have some sun and time together before the baby is born,” says Ms Morgan. “I’ve been going to Barbados every year for the past 20 years and Benedict has been coming with me since we’ve been together. My sister lives there and now she won’t see me while I’m pregnant.”
After initially offering the couple a 40% refund, Virgin has now agreed to a repay the full cost of the trip, and they are waiting for the money to come through before deciding whether to holiday elsewhere.
Ms Morgan says she’s glad there’s been so much publicity about their plight: “I’m really pleased our situation has been highlighted in the media, as I hope it will help other people facing the same problem cancel their plans and get their money back.”
On Monday, the World Health Organisation declared Zika a public health emergency of international concern.
While most people who contract the mosquito-borne virus will only suffer mild symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain, Zika can cause babies to be born with microcephaly (abnormally small heads). There is no vaccine to treat the virus.
The current Zika outbreak began last May in Brazil, where almost 4,000 cases of microcephaly have been recorded, and has spread rapidly to more than 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The National Travel Health Network and Centre is advising pregnant women to reconsider travelling to countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks.
Ha, classic journalism 101. “Has decided to cancel holiday of a lifetime to Barbados ” ….”I’ve been going to Barbados every year for the past 20 years “
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Nice of Virgin to refund the money paid – isnt travel insurance there for that though?
Her sister wont beale to see her whilst she is pregnant? what flights from Barbados to the UK are cancelled?
Perhaps they can afford a marriage now with the money?
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Sorry… what? This is genuinely an article?
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The fear of Zika virus is so spread in all regions. I personally believe that everyone should fight against these diseases by eradicating mosquitoes from the environment. The best way of doing this would be hiring professionals such as New Castle Pest Control https://www.rosevillecapestcontrol.com/pest-control/. These experts know all the techniques and methodology for eliminating these disease spreaders. Regular pest control can decrease the risk of diseases too much extinct.
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