Travel industry faces growing concern over Zika

Airlines, hotels and cruise operators serving Latin America and the Caribbean are facing growing concern over travel to countries potentially affected by the Zika virus after the WHO warned of its likely spread to most of the Americas. The outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus comes as a record percentage of Americans plan a vacation in coming months and a near-record proportion of them look to travel abroad with a strong US dollar making overseas destinations more affordable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that people should "consider postponing travel to areas w/ ongoing Zika transmission." United Airlines said it was allowing customers who had reserved tickets for travel to Zika-impacted regions to postpone their trips or obtain refunds with no penalty. <br/>