Many feel that thorough planning, including getting information on the virus, can help them avoid infection.

An observation by Bernama at the three-day Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Fair 2016 (Matta Fair), which ended at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here yesterday, found that many people were still interested in obtaining the cheap tour packages offered.

A visitor, Nurul Awanis Abdul Wahid, 46, said although many others were afraid to go on tour due to the spread of the disease in several countries, it did not stop her and family from planning to vacation abroad.

“If we want to have a vacation abroad, we will try to refer to the Health Ministry beforehand on the measures to be taken,” she told Bernama.

Eizza Athirah Shamsol Akmal, 17, said her plan to holiday in Hong Kong with her family at the end of the year would proceed as planned.

“Our family had planned to spend the holidays visiting places of attraction such as Disneyland and waited for the Matta Fair to check on the best price and package. For me, the zika virus is not an issue as long as we take precautionary measures,” she said.

Sarah Liyana Abu Hassan, 26, meanwhile, felt that the public should not panic but instead find out more information about the virus before deciding to holiday in any destination.

“If possible, avoid holidaying in countries where the zika virus had spread widely, but personally, I feel it is not as worrying as the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) previously,” said Sarah Liyana, who just returned from a vacation in Singapore.