ForwardKeys study reported that there were 3 percent fewer bookings to Brazil between January 15 and February 10, compared to the number of reservations made a year ago. Resorts with outbreaks of Zika, such as Martinique and the US Virgin Islands suffered falls of 24 and 27 percent, respectively.

The website offering travel deals, Travelzoo Inc. pointed out that the news of the outbreak had led 30% of the 1,636 members surveyed last month to reconsider their plans to visit destinations affected by the Zika.

However, Cuba, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, remains a safe destination for travelers. Despite being considered the low season for tourism in Cuba, in July last year arrived more than 220 000 visitors, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and Information, and for this summer similar figures are predicted.

Given this scenario, experts warn about the reappearance of tropical infectious diseases, such as Zika, dengue fever, cholera, malaria and certain types of dermatitis, when the sanitary measures are not taken into account.

Soulidays consulted with Dr. Luis Orlando Acosta, Hygiene and Epidemiology Technician who advises that “every tourist must know the list of vaccines required for each country, according to the World Health Organization”.

In tropical locations that abound in Cuba, tourists come in contact with environmental factors that may affect them, such as insect bites, rodents or other animals, humidity, solar radiation or accidents.