An Edmonton couple has encountered a problem with their insurance company, after cancelling a trip to the Caribbean due to concerns surrounding the Zika virus.
Brittany Topilko and her husband were supposed to depart on Saturday, but they decided to cancel their trip over Zika virus concerns, because Brittany is four and a half months pregnant.
The couple has received a credit from Westjet for the flights, but the insurance company they used – CSA Travel Protection – won’t refund their money for the week-long Caribbean cruise.
Their vacation came as concerns mount over the spread of the Zika virus, and pregnant women are being warned to not travel to areas where they could contract the illness. Some countries have gone as far as to advise women to hold off getting pregnant.
The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to a sudden increase in microcephaly, a condition where babies are born with abnormally small heads; officials have recorded a spike in the number of cases in Brazil.
As a result of warning surrounding the virus, Air Canada and Westjet have both introduced policies for expectant moms.
“This isn’t considered a good enough reason, in the insurance [company’s] opinion to cancel our trip, because it’s a risk of something that might happen, it’s not a big enough health concern at this point, according to them,” Brittany Topilko said.
The company hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
