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HEAD SHRINK BUG FEARS

Number of Zika-infected Brits rises above 150 after contracting virus while travelling, figures reveal

Health bosses say there is no risk to the wider public

ZIKA CURE

More than 150 Brits have been infected with the Zika virus after travelling abroad, according to Public Health England.

Most of the cases, 106, are from people who have been to the Caribbean.

 The disease causes infants’ heads and brains to shrink
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The disease causes infants’ heads and brains to shrinkCredit: AP:Associated Press

33 cases have been linked with travel to South America, where the disease broke out.

The mosquito that transmits Zika is not found in the UK so health bosses say the risk to the wider British puiblic is "negligible".

As of July 30 53 cases of Zika had been reported in Britain.

These latest figures come after it was revealed that a THIRD of British travellers changed their holiday plans over Zika fears.

 Brazil is one of the countries currently battling the disease which looks set to establish itself in the US
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Brazil is one of the countries currently battling the disease which looks set to establish itself in the USCredit: Corbis

Online travel agency www.sunshine.co.uk found that the most popular swap was from the Dominican Republic to Spain as Brits avoid South America, where Zika outbreaks have exploded in the past year.

Brits are ditching the Dominican Republic, pictured, for Spain in a bid to avoid the virus
Mexico was the next top destination to be ditched followed by family favourite Florida.

 The disease doesn't pose a risk to the wider British public
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The disease doesn't pose a risk to the wider British publicCredit: Getty Images

But despite changing their holiday plans over fifty per cent of people admitted they didn’t fully understand the risks of the virus, which mainly affects the health of unborn babies.

The virus was declared a global health emergency in February after breaking out in Brazil last year.

It can cause children to be born with abnormally small heads, known as microcephaly, and brain damage.

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