Anyone concerned about the "mosquito" talk?

[kandb]

I am currently 22 weeks pregnant and we are pretty sure we are going to cancel our upcoming September trip. I was talking to my dad last night (he lives just south of Disney) about this same subject because I was thinking we could maybe reschedule for one of the cooler weather months. He says the mosquitos never really go away because it doesn't get cold and stay cold long enough. He said he actually notices them less during the hottest months, and more so from the November-February timeframe, probably because it's cooler and they are out more often. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear lol. If it were me I'd either delay trying to conceive until after your trip or just continue to monitor what the CDC says about the situation and discuss it with your doctor.

Sorry about your trip but you are making the unselfish and wise choice. Why risk the health of your unborn baby to go to Disney? Disney will be there for many years and you can come back when you are not risking your innocent unborn baby. It will give you more time to plan for a great vacation. Good luck with your new baby when he/she arrives.

 

[hiroMYhero]

You are 100% right. I recently read about a young male that became paralyzed from contracting the West Nile Virus. Also, people sometimes get Guillian Barre Syndrome from viruses. Too many people say, there is "no" need to worry and that is just not true.

Thank you for mentioning Guillian Barre - there reportedly is a strong relationship between GB and Zika. As much as I have read, they have not confirmed the ages of those who have experienced GB as a result of being infected with the Zika virus.

I'd also like to remind everyone to please remain on the topic of this thread: Planning a WDW trip while being cognizant of Mosquitoes and Zika.

 

[kandb]

One thing to also consider is that the CDC is currently recommending anyone who is pregnant and traveled to this area since June 15 be tested for zika. This means it was a month and a half of people being potentially exposed and not know it. While it may be okay to travel to Orlando right now, there is no way to know what they will say 6 weeks from now about what you could have been exposed to.

Good point, you are 100% correct, unfortunately some people will take this this unnecessary risk and visit Florida when they don't have to.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Yes, please do elaborate.
Your original statement:

is alarmist and false.
The mosquitoes that can transmit the Zika virus are not even present throughout the US, let alone the entire world. You are making it sound like it's going to become a worldwide epidemic, when it's simply not - no matter how many times you explain that you think that "present on an area of every continent" means an epidemic of global proportions. This is based on everything that is currently known about Zika and its transmission routes.

Not sure why you can't follow so I'll try one last time then you are on your own.

Everything I say below is unarguable.

RIO is a hotbed for Zika
People from all over the world are converging there.
An unknown percent of those will be bitten an infected
Those people will return home
The mosquitos that carry the virus be found on every continent other than Antarctica and cover a large percent of the worlds population
Some if those infected people will be bitten and pass the virus to their home mosquitos
Those mosquitos will bite other people and infect them

The worldwide cases of Zika will spike after the Olympics and it will be around the globe

Come back in a month and I'll be happy to admit I was wrong if it doesn't happen.

Note I said "spread across the globe". You changed that to "global epidemic" and then called me an alarmist.

 

[BayouQueen]

From all I've read, my expectations are, sadly, the same as Snapshot1188's.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I agree with controlling risks within your ability to control - like avoiding travel to areas that you consider to be a risk for any reason. But worrying about the global spread of Zika isn't helpful to anyone. It is not something within our ability to control. If it happens, we deal with it as it develops based on the changing risk patterns.

For now, it doesn't register on my list of things that are worthy of my attention beyond monitoring developments.

 

[Missyrose]

It wasn't that long ago they were saying it isn't in the US and could only affect people in the Caribbean now it is here, we are going to have a lot more cases, of that I'm sure. Nature always finds a way.

When it was in the Caribbean, no one said it could *never* make its way here. Just like now, the disease has hit Miami, that doesn't mean it can't make its way north in the state. BUT until does, there's no need for panic. Just to be well-educated about precautions. And it's also important to note from several of the news stories posted on this thread, the theme park industry has some of the most sophisticated systems to keep mosquitoes at bay, so that significantly lessens the outbreak at Disney.

Yeah, it might not be Disney's responsibility to tell people there are alligators in Florida but it is their responsibility to tell them they may be in the lake at the beach right outside of their hotel room, you know where Disney placed chairs that overlooked the lake and where Disney only said not to swim, never mentioned their might be an alligator lurking in the lake.

I don't want this to devolve into a gator argument, but it should be noted that the attack happened IN THE WATER not to a family sitting on the beach away from the water.

What scary too, is that people who have had ebola and recovered, many have had long lasting or recurring medical issues. Do your research.

In what universe is Ebola like Zika in any way other than they're both diseases?

 

[kandb]

In what universe is Ebola like Zika in any way other than they're both diseases?

I didn't say they were "alike". I was just pointing out that that sometimes you can "recover" from one of these illnesses and you can have long lasting or other complications in the future.

 

[SillySallySews]

Sorry about your trip but you are making the unselfish and wise choice. Why risk the health of your unborn baby to go to Disney? Disney will be there for many years and you can come back when you are not risking your innocent unborn baby. It will give you more time to plan for a great vacation. Good luck with your new baby when he/she arrives.

Thank you! It wasn't our first scheduled trip to Disney and it definitely won't be our last, but it is kind of a bummer. Especially since this was the one year my husband actually knew his work schedule months in advance and we were able to book our dream resort (Poly) with a military discount. The discounts (really, the rooms in general) are usually all gone by the time we know our dates. But between the pregnancy, my youngest getting febrile seizures, and my parents telling us their local news is reporting way more than what we see here on CNN or any of the other major news outlets, it just seemed like the risk was not worth it.

 

[MariMama]

You are 100% right. I recently read about a young male that became paralyzed from contracting the West Nile Virus. Also, people sometimes get Guillian Barre Syndrome from viruses. Too many people say, there is "no" need to worry and that is just not true.

I have a better chance of being in a car accident on my multiple car trips daily or contracting West Nile Virus than I do of contracting Zika, but for some reason, some people don't understand that.

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/symptoms.html It doesn't sound any worse than the common cold or any other typical virus.

 

[Boski]

I cannot wait for another one of those "What should I wear to Disney" threads pops up....because I'm so recommending this:

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Sorry about your trip but you are making the unselfish and wise choice. Why risk the health of your unborn baby to go to Disney? Disney will be there for many years and you can come back when you are not risking your innocent unborn baby. It will give you more time to plan for a great vacation. Good luck with your new baby when he/she arrives.

I'll be 16-17 weeks pregnant on our upcoming trip to WDW in September. Add me to the "selfish and unwise" mother's club, I suppose.

I'm not second guessing going at the moment. Right now, Zika transmitted by mosquito bites is only present in one neighborhood near Miami. I'm not going to Miami--I'm staying in a rental home with a screened in patio-pool area and driving to the WDW parks. I've never seen a mosquito at WDW, nor have I gotten a mosquito bite. If there is news in the next month or so of Zika spreading north to the Orange County area, I will be wearing CDC-recommended mosquito repellent while outside with DEET. DEET is safe for pregnant women. I'm buying the repellent wipes to avoid inhaling any chemicals from a spray.

The risk of getting Zika in WDW currently, where Zika has never been reported as being transmitted via mosquito bites, is minuscule. People would be much better off worrying about all the mothers currently injuring and damaging their babies in the womb by drinking, doing drugs and not receiving prenatal care.

 

[BeerMe]

Not concerned at all.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

For the most part this virus isn't going to kill you if you get it.

For the most part it probably won't even make you very sick.

It apparently can cause serious neurological deformities in the unborn, so there are alerts about it.

Yes, even if there isn't any pregnancy involved there is a minor chance of complications, like with any virus. There are deaths from complications from the flu. Up to you if you feel the need to avoid that.

why WDW should post warnings when there isn't even an issue there is beyond me at the moment, but it's mosquito borne so if you choose to go maybe get some repellant. It doesn't cost much and you can buy wipes, so you can take them on an airplane.

Yes, I 've been bitten by mosquitoes at WDW. At various times, in various places. I have also gone entire trips when I have never been bitten by a mosquito.

 

[FreeTime]

I am also in agreement with snapshot1118. There are already about thirty cases in Columbus, Ohio. One from sex and the rest transmitted from Mosquitos where visitors to Central America occurred. They are testing Mosquitos around where these individuals reside to determine if the Mosquitos here have picked them up from the people. Like many other virus's, diseases, etc it will spread. I don't think we need to be overly concerned about it, just be precautious like you would about any other illness. Canceling a vacation is not going to necessarily keep you out of harms way. It is easy enough for an infected mosquito to hitch a ride in a car, back of a semi, etc, and continue to head north combined with the people bringing it home with them.

 

[Pmlocke]

There has been a lot of bad info or as I would call it, mis-information regarding Zika. To most adults and children, getting Zika may result in a mild fever, some joint pain, headaches and a rash. Likely to last a week and after two weeks the virus will no longer be traceable in your system. Some older adults may be in the risk group to develop Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but it is highly unlikely. As for pregnant women or women who get pregnant with the zika virus is in her system, the chance of the fetus developing microcephaly is a great danger. I would not cancel a trip to Disney due to fear of the Zika threat unless you are pregannt or planning on becoming pregant. Other than that, the threat is minimal and may only cause some discomfort, like a mild case of the flu. If you are a young woman and experience symptoms after a trip, I would suggest a follow up with your family doctor.

 

[FortForever]

In all 3 of the cases, in the US, of birth defects from "Zika," the mothers had traveled to these areas in Brazil. They did not just contact Zika here. Additionally, there are many cases of pregnant women in the US, who have tested positive for Zika, giving birth to completely healthy babies, although the CDC refuses to release the numbers. Interesting. Unless you're going to Brazil, I would not be concerned at all.

 

[Dismama2boys]

In all 3 of the cases, in the US, of birth defects from "Zika," the mothers had traveled to these areas in Brazil. They did not just contact Zika here. Additionally, there are many cases of pregnant women in the US, who have tested positive for Zika, giving birth to completely healthy babies, although the CDC refuses to release the numbers. Interesting. Unless you're going to Brazil, I would not be concerned at all.

One of the known birth defects caused by the larvicide is.....wait for it....microcephaly.

 

[Sagginit]

I'll be 16-17 weeks pregnant on our upcoming trip to WDW in September. Add me to the "selfish and unwise" mother's club, I suppose.

I'm not second guessing going at the moment. Right now, Zika transmitted by mosquito bites is only present in one neighborhood near Miami. I'm not going to Miami--I'm staying in a rental home with a screened in patio-pool area and driving to the WDW parks. I've never seen a mosquito at WDW, nor have I gotten a mosquito bite. If there is news in the next month or so of Zika spreading north to the Orange County area, I will be wearing CDC-recommended mosquito repellent while outside with DEET. DEET is safe for pregnant women. I'm buying the repellent wipes to avoid inhaling any chemicals from a spray.

The risk of getting Zika in WDW currently, where Zika has never been reported as being transmitted via mosquito bites, is minuscule. People would be much better off worrying about all the mothers currently injuring and damaging their babies in the womb by drinking, doing drugs and not receiving prenatal care.

Me too! I will be nearing the end of my second trimester (it actually ends mid-trip and I go into my third). I get eaten alive in the summer in NJ but can't actually remember getting bitten by a mosquito in my past trips to WDW. I have been following the news and it just is not a huge concern based on the data. Humans are the carriers, so unless the infected population from Miami all go Orlando I don't believe it will make it there in the next 8 weeks or so to the level that I need to panic. I actually read someone say on a message board to a news site that we should build a barrier to keep the mosquitoes out as people think they are flying up from Brazil I am at risk in NJ this summer too as I live outside NYC and many South Americans travel in and out of this area, I cut down on my risk all summer and so far no Zika reported up here.

We booked it before the warning was out a few weeks ago. My bigger risk is getting gluten b/c I am a celiac which can happen at a million places, but WDW is one of those places that is super safe. Statistically I am more likely to get in a car crash on my way to WDW. My friend is a nurse with a masters degree and she just went pregnant in the summer, so I know I am not the only one thinking that it is unreasonable to still go to Orlando right now. I am going to watch it and if it becomes majorly risky will make a decision closer to the date.

Also what the previous poster said about the genetically modified mosquitoes is a huge point that I saw mentioned elsewhere that the news channels will not touch with a ten foot pole. The mosquitoes were bred and released in Brazil so that when they give birth the offspring have a defect and die. Suddenly a disease like this is causing a birth defect in humans after all this time...

 

[NJlauren]

This was in my doctors office when I went earlier in the week.