The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is relying on Hill+Knowlton Strategies as it tackles the Zika virus crisis and its effect on tourism.
H+K's Miami office leads the account.
Puerto Rico's health department said May 13 that a pregnant woman there became the first American whose fetus contracted microcephaly from a Zika infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 20 percent or more of Puerto Rico's 3.5M people will contract the Zika virus this year.
H+K and the PRTC are working to calm fears and correct misinformatioon regarding Zika. That includes educating travelers and potential travelers about using insect repellant wearing proper clothing to avoid the mosquito bits that spread Zika.
"Accurate information about Zika is the key to making educated decisions about visiting Puerto Rico," said Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the PRTC.
PRTC said this month fewer than have of one percent of Puerto Ricans have contracted Zika and the majority of casses are away from "typical tourist destinations."
The island suffered a PR blow last month when Major League Baseball canceled a series of games slated for San Juan because of the Zika outbreak.
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