Another email from DCL about the Zika virus

[Canadian Girl]

I don't think there is any Zika virus currently in the Bahamas.

 

[Alexle2007]

I am in Punta Cana right now and haven't seen a single mosquito. (And it's on the CDC list and in the email from Southwest.) I even made sure to bring 2 bottles of bug spray with me.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I thought that large outings can spray for bugs. Could it be that some places in the affected areas spray to reduce bugs in tourism areas? They do that for outdoor weddings.

 

[RedSox68]

Any Zika worries in Bermuda?

 

[MUN]

My fiancée and I are going to be on that same cruise and we're just going to wear big spray the whole time we go outside just to be safe

Even on the ship?

 

[phinz]

Even on the ship?

This was my exact quandary, but I didn't want to ask.

 

[MUN]

Any Zika worries in Bermuda?

Not for DCL.

 

[RedSox68]

Not for DCL.

I was asking in general.

 

[NCConch]

I gave blood the other day there was a list Caribbean nations that are on the Zika watch list. The Bahamas were not listed. I did not pay attention to other countries as we only do Bahamas cruises.

 

[MUN]

I was asking in general.

I haven't heard about any Zika issues with Bermuda.

 

[AquaDame]

The Bahamas are not listed either - DCL may just be sending it to everyone going to the caribbean or south america in an abundance of caution (good on them). I know many people have said they haven't seen mosquitos, but do you ever really see every mosquito? I never see the ones that bite me, unless its a swarm. I was bit a ton in PR whereas my husband was not - they love my O- blood I guess!

We don't understand a lot about Zika currently so its hard to offer any good advice to someone else. What we DO know is that if you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the near future, you really need to speak with your doctor about your travel plans and may wish to forego them. Many people are choosing not to travel this year even if they may not be pregnant for 1-2 years even, again in an overabundance of caution. Just this morning on Twitter I saw an Irish golfer has announced he will not compete in the Olympics as he and his fiancé will be trying to start a family in the next couple of years.

My own personal opinion is that this is worse than Dengue, or any other disease I could pick up in the Caribbean because the long term consequences to an unborn child are so horrific to think about. Me being horribly sick for weeks just doesn't measure up to causing severe birth defects to my progeny. That said, Im not and have no plans to be pregnant ever if I can help it, so I will keep cruising, west nile be darned!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

We don't understand a lot about Zika currently so its hard to offer any good advice to someone else. What we DO know is that if you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the near future, you really need to speak with your doctor about your travel plans and may wish to forego them. Many people are choosing not to travel this year even if they may not be pregnant for 1-2 years even, again in an overabundance of caution. Just this morning on Twitter I saw an Irish golfer has announced he will not compete in the Olympics as he and his fiancé will be trying to start a family in the next couple of years.

Yes they are now recommending that couples use condoms or barrier protection for 6 months after one partner arrives back from a zika infested area. Originally it was 2 months and then 4 months. I would not recommend anyone to do a tropical honeymoon right now unless they are comfortable using condoms for the first 6 months of their marriage. There have already been 6 babies diagnosed with microcephaly linked to zika virus in the US.

 

[RedSox68]

A male golfer just cancelled his attendance at the Olympics because of it, and several female athletes have already cancelled. Pretty scary scenario if it can stay in your system for months and affect any future pregnancies.

 

[phinz]

Here's a great way to keep up with where Zika is. The CDC is pretty good about updating their lists.

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/

 

[DLgal]

Just because you don't see mosquitos doesn't mean they aren't around...I usually don't see the mosquitos that end up eating me alive.

By the time you see them, they have already bitten you, most likely.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

The Centers for Disease Control lists both the Bahamas and Puerto Rico as places that tourists should take precautions against mosquitos because they are so prevelent there. Guess you were lucky.
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/the-bahamas
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/puerto-rico

Not really luck. There are no mosquitos on the beaches near San Juan in PR. It's too windy Go further inland to the ghetto type areas or the mangroves, and you will see more. Believe me, 12 hours after I booked the trip, I was thisclose to cancelling. After speaking to many people, and being told over and over the bugs aren't on the beach, we went

 

[dvcdream4fld]

My wife is pregnant. We are doing the eastern cruise on the fantasy in September. We talk with our Doctor and ask for recommendation. The doctor cleared her for travel. My wife plans to only go to shore at castaway cay. I have not decided yetabout shore excursions, but I'm going to be cautious. we check the cdc warnings weekly to see if any changes.

 

[tvguy]

Not really luck. There are no mosquitos on the beaches near San Juan in PR. It's too windy Go further inland to the ghetto type areas or the mangroves, and you will see more. Believe me, 12 hours after I booked the trip, I was thisclose to cancelling. After speaking to many people, and being told over and over the bugs aren't on the beach, we went

The travel warnings don't specify anything more than a travel warning for all of Puerto Rico.