North Wales holidaymakers among the UK’s most insured

As chikungunya cases rise, nearly seven in ten North Welsh residents are booking travel insurance.

Transcript

00:00In North Wales, 74% of residents say they usually purchase travel insurance before going abroad, according to YouGov.

00:08Local clinics and pharmacies have reported more inquiries from residents asking about vaccinations and safety tips before travelling overseas,

00:16reflecting a strong awareness of travel health risks.

00:20Across the UK, chikungunya infections among returning travellers are on the rise,

00:24with 73 cases recorded from January to June, compared with 27 in the same period last year.

00:31The majority of cases were linked to travel in Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius.

00:35Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus that can trigger fever, severe joint pain, rashes and fatigue, sometimes lasting months or years.

00:43Vaccinations are available privately after assessment by a healthcare professional.

00:47Travellers are advised to use insect repellent, cover exposed skin and sleep under insecticide-treated nets.

00:53Mosquito species that transmit the virus are not established in the UK, so there's no risk of local spread.