The Maldives, already hit with sliding arrivals from China, its biggest source market, suffered another setback after Chinese authorities issued a Zika warning against travel to the nation of resort islands.
In an advisory dated November 1, Chinese authorities warned its citizens against travelling to the Maldives due to the Zika virus epidemic there. The notice will remain in effect for the next three months.
The warning follows a World Health Organisation announcement on September 29 adding the Maldives to the Zika virus epidemic list.
The Chinese advisory is cautioning “travellers to take strict precautions against mosquitoes, such as wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes, spraying mosquito repellent and applying mosquito nets.
“Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant have been advised to avoid the island entirely. The virus is especially dangerous to pregnant women and can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects in children.”
According to official data, arrivals from China have fallen 11.3 per cent in the January to September 2016 period compared with the same period last year to 259,679 visitors.
