employees u.s. company seek avoid exposure zika virus likely legal avenues either refuse travel affect areas sue actually become sick virus may different story workers subsequently give birth zika-infected baby since zika detect brazil last year mosquito-borne virus spread 33 countries americas world health organization declare international health emergency strong suspicions infections pregnant women may cause microcephaly condition infants bear abnormally small head suffer developmental problems virus typically cause mild symptoms adults also link autoimmune disorder call guillain-barre syndrome cause paralysis u.s. world health authorities currently warn travel affect areas 2014 ebola outbreak west africa however advise pregnant women consider postpone travel travelers take precautions avoid mosquito bite adherence recommendations u.s. department state world health organization would shield company large degree claim act recklessly send employees zika-affected areas lawyers typically represent employers say u.s. center disease control prevention cdc recommend travelers wear insect repellent sleep mosquito net place might bite among measure defense sort claim follow public health guidance say mark lie lawyer firm seyfarth shaw specialize advise company employment issue advisories also mean workers probably would protect termination refuse go affect area lawyers say federal occupational safety health act give workers right refuse dangerous task task must pose immediate risk death serious injury something like work defective tool electrical spark come would meet standard say ben huggett little another employment law firm travel zika-affected area hand would probably say lie say upgrade warn event zika prove lethal virulent could give workers right refuse travel say osha afford special protection pregnant women current threat level law govern safety employees unborn children may carry employees contract zika travel job immediate harm suffer would cover worker compensation insurance form no-fault insurance apply injuries suffer job virtually state require employers obtain worker compensation insurance mandate sole remedy workplace injuries worker compensation cover lose wag medical care award typically small private lawsuits seek recover damage pain suffer well punitive damage negligence whether worker compensation would cover purport zika-related injuries employee baby less clear huggett say fetal injury might cover derivative mother injury huggett say unaware case directly address worker compensation fetus harm infectious disease really open question say lie say believe worker compensation would generally cover injury fetus think could open door employee bring lawsuit employer negligence someone pregnant try get pregnant could get pregnant could case say katherine dudley helm lawyer employment law firm ogletree deakins many state limit worker compensation several years pay damage award severely impair child could reach tens millions dollars accord michael jones employment lawyer reed smith michael gerson california firm boxer gerson bring claim behalf employees say case would still challenge company follow official warn evidence would show mother never give adequate warn protect go type environment say jones say case would tough employer would concern send employee high risk region say claim get front jury go look sympathetic plaintiff reuters report last week several international airlines allow flight crew members may become pregnant request reassignment rout avoid zika-affected areas spokeswoman one airlines american aal.o decline comment possible legal liability require travel could create say company policy motivate concern employees well-being unite ual.n delta dal.n also offer reassign employees could immediately reach lawyers see limit legal options workers send zika 's way