Peterborough travel giant's pledge to its pregnant customers due to travel to Zika virus areas

The Bretton-based company is currently contacting all its holiday makers due to travel to such areas, which include Mexico, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde, to talk through any worries.

A spokeswoman said: “Our customer service team is proactively contacting all customers due to travel to the affected areas to advise them of the situation and to ensure that we are handling any concerns on a case by case basis.

She added: “At Thomas Cook we understand that customers who are pregnant will naturally be concerned about travelling to an area affected by the Zika Virus.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and would like to reassure any pregnant customers due to travel up to and including April 30 this year with Thomas Cook to one of the affected areas that we are happy to offer free amendments to alternative destinations.

“In addition, our resort teams are contactable 24 hours a day should any customers who are on holiday in these destinations need any information or support during their stay.

“As always, the health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance and we will continue to monitor the situation and keep our policy under review.”

Medical experts have linked the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus to a surge in newborn babies suffering from microcephaly in Brazil.

This causes them to be born with abnormally small heads and leads to problems with brain development.