As summer travel season begins, Puerto Rico’s tourist board assures travelers need not fear Zika virus threats on the island. The destination, home to 4 million residents, receives around 5 million visitors each year. The Puerto Rico Department of Health is currently working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fight the Zika virus by any means necessary.

“To put this situation into perspective, to date, less than one half of one percent of our population has been affected by the Zika virus,” said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, executive director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “We are doing everything in our power to protect visitors to our island and ensure they can have a worry-free vacation. As a tropical island in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has significant experience dealing with mosquitos and related illnesses, and visitors to our island can feel confident that we are putting this expertise to work and protecting the safety and welfare of everyone who comes here. We have been proactive in three key areas — preparation, prevention and protection — employing strategies to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, provide mosquito bite prevention messages, train health professionals, implement surveillance systems to better understand and manage the virus and monitor any new research on preventive actions.”

In addition to efforts made by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, popular resorts, restaurants and tourist areas are also encouraged to monitor and spray mosquito populations, and to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.