US government health officials revised Zika travel warnings, giving the go-ahead for pregnant women to visit high elevation areas in Zika-affected countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said destinations above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) were deemed safe from infection as the mosquito species responsible for the spread of the virus is rarely found due to the lack of humidity.
Of the dozens of countries on the Zika watch list, several large cities at higher elevations are considered free from the virus.
These include Mexico City, La Paz in Bolivia and Bogota in Colombia.
"I suspect several countries will be quite pleased," said Dr. Martin Cetron, who heads the CDC’s division of global migration and quarantine.
Countries such as Mexico had objected to blanket countrywide advisories when most suspected Zika infections were concentrated in just two southern states.
CDC officials estimate about 40 million US travelers visited Zika outbreak areas in 2015.
