Anyone concerned about the "mosquito" talk?

[Nigel Channing]

The spread of the zika virus is not limited to where the infected mosquitoes are located, according to the CDC, "Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites." So just because Canada may not have the infected mosquitoes in their country does not mean that zika will not eventually spread to Canada. That was the point I was making.

But if there are no mosquitos there that transmit the virus then it won't spread. I'm sure Canada has had numerous people return there from traveling abroad who were infected with Zika, just like we've had in Illinois.

 

[Joltin Joe IV]

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

I need to preface this with an apology because I truly, truly do not want you to think that I am stalking you.

I came upon this post and thought it was curious. Wouldn't that be a thing, that the larvicide was linked to microcephaly. Went to trusty Google: "larvicide and microcephaly", and largely found the opposite (not to my surprise).

Came back to the post and recognized your username from our previous 'spat.' Wondered whether I should even write this post. Decided that calling you out on this (again) was for the better than for either of our egos.


So, at the risk of being accused as an internet bully/stalker, can you provide a source for your information?

Here are sources to the exact contrary:

http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/articles/rumours/en/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/health-experts-dismiss-claims-larvicide-linked-to-microcephaly/

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsan...e-microcephaly-in-brazil-unlikely-say-experts

http://www.sciencealert.com/argenti...s-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

To reiterate -- I'm sorry for coming across as a bully, but not sorry for trying to keep the record straight. I'll be happy to read whatever article you can conjure up to support pesticide linkage with microcephaly.

 

[jeepnjudy]

But if there are no mosquitos there that transmit the virus then it won't spread. I'm sure Canada has had numerous people return there from traveling abroad who were infected with Zika, just like we've had in Illinois.

Guess the human population will just have to wait and see.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Many people get the virus with no symptoms. So there very well could be more than 4 people with it

You are so right.
My daughter and son in law started talking about starting their family but they had returned from Jamaica in June on a mission trip and Riviera Maya in July for vacation. They visited the OBGYN and both got tested for Zika just to be on the safe side. The urine test came back negative immediately but the blood test on my son in law came back positive for Zika antibodies (I hope that is the correct terminology).

 

[eyehartdisney]

You are so right.
My daughter and son in law started talking about starting their family but they had returned from Jamaica in June on a mission trip and Riviera Maya in July for vacation. They visited the OBGYN and both got tested for Zika just to be on the safe side. The urine test came back negative immediately but the blood test on my son in law came back positive for Zika antibodies (I hope that is the correct terminology).

And what's more, if microcephaly were directly related to zika, there would be far more cases in south america. There has been some suggestion now that microcephaly is due to the interaction of two illnesses.

 

[ArwenMarie]

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

View attachment 186335

Whoa. That's rather intense.

Is this at a regular doctor or an OB-GYN?

 

[NJlauren]

Whoa. That's rather intense.

Is this at a regular doctor or an OB-GYN?

OB-GYN

 

[Dismama2boys]

I need to preface this with an apology because I truly, truly do not want you to think that I am stalking you.

I came upon this post and thought it was curious. Wouldn't that be a thing, that the larvicide was linked to microcephaly. Went to trusty Google: "larvicide and microcephaly", and largely found the opposite (not to my surprise).

Came back to the post and recognized your username from our previous 'spat.' Wondered whether I should even write this post. Decided that calling you out on this (again) was for the better than for either of our egos.


So, at the risk of being accused as an internet bully/stalker, can you provide a source for your information?

Here are sources to the exact contrary:

http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/articles/rumours/en/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/health-experts-dismiss-claims-larvicide-linked-to-microcephaly/

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsan...e-microcephaly-in-brazil-unlikely-say-experts

http://www.sciencealert.com/argenti...s-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

To reiterate -- I'm sorry for coming across as a bully, but not sorry for trying to keep the record straight. I'll be happy to read whatever article you can conjure up to support pesticide linkage with microcephaly.

Due to your condescending tone, I'd rather not engage with you. And I read it many places several months ago, and did not make note of the sources. But here's one I quickly googled:
http://necsi.edu/research/social/pandemics/statusreport

I am not and have never told others not to worry about Zika. I feel comfortable in my research (and while it is none of your business, I am trying to get pregnant) and am acting accordingly. When asked my opinion, which is by definition my own, I give it. Feel free to share your opinion as well, but kindly leave it and your "apologies" in a manner that does not attempt to engage me.

 

[andyman8]

Hearing reports that it could be in Palm Beach County now.

Also curious as to why there's so much judgement going around in this thread? Everyone is entitled to their own choices. If someone feels uncomfortable going down to FL right now (or their doctor has advised against it), they have every right to cancel. They're not being alarmist or overreacting. I swear there are some on here who would march down Main Street in a beekeeper's suit before canceling their WDW trip.

 

[famy27]

Hearing reports that it could be in Palm Beach County now.

Also curious as to why there's so much judgement going around in this thread? Everyone is entitled to their own choices. If someone feels uncomfortable going down to FL right now (or their doctor has advised against it), they have every right to cancel. They're not being alarmist or overreacting. I swear there are some on here who would march down Main Street in a beekeeper's suit before canceling their WDW trip.

Likewise those who have evaluated the risks and have decided to travel have that right, too. They don't need to be considered reckless or selfish or as taking "unnecessary risks." Everyone perceives and evaluates risk differently, and there is really no wrong answer here

 

[frodoandmax]

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...

I am currently 12 weeks pregnant with my first child and hubs and I planned this Disney trip last fall- we are going in October, I will be 21 weeks when we go. We are staying on property and will only go off of it one day to go to Sea World. As of now, still planning on going and ob/gyn ok with that. She did say that if it gets towards the end of September and there's more widespread cases in florida and near Disney, she may tell me not to go, which we hope isn't the case!
I have never been bitten by a mosquito at Disney, while I know they are there, I think Disney does a good job of controlling it.
I feel like there are so many things that could go wrong in a pregnancy or risk of birth defects that are much more likely than Zika, that I think the risk of me getting infected with Zika and causing a problem with the baby is miniscule.

I did talk to Disney guest services just in case and they said they are monitoring the situation daily and they told me, that as of now there are no changes in their cancellation policy even with a Doctor's excuse because there are no mosquitos with zika there that they have seen or people infected with zika by mosquitos there. I know that's probably a typical response, but that's what they told me.

Anyways, I do not feel like I am being selfish or unwise in at this point continuing to go to Disney. I have been keeping abreast of the news and research and have educated myself on the topic so feel I am making an appropriate decision for me and my family at this time.

 

[mefordis]

The layperson is not equipped to analyze the complex data that would go into mosquito migration or congenital viral infections or the like. There are facts and there are opinions. Opine all you like on Donald v. Hilary. But providing misinformed "opinions" on scientific matters is truly out of line and dangerous.

Right. Don't think for yourself. We are not capable of reading and deciding what makes sense. We must listen to the "experts" and do as they instruct. But not all "experts". Only those that are in line with the CDC and the FDA. No one else. The rest are crackpots.

 

[TheJuiciestOfJs]

Due to your condescending tone, I'd rather not engage with you. And I read it many places several months ago, and did not make note of the sources. But here's one I quickly googled:
http://necsi.edu/research/social/pandemics/statusreport

I am not and have never told others not to worry about Zika. I feel comfortable in my research (and while it is none of your business, I am trying to get pregnant) and am acting accordingly. When asked my opinion, which is by definition my own, I give it. Feel free to share your opinion as well, but kindly leave it and your "apologies" in a manner that does not attempt to engage me.

The report you linked to has some clear biases involved:

It spends 90% of the article attempting to refute the correlation between Zika and microcephaly and just tacks on that pyriproxyfen (PPF) could be a cause, citing 3 sources.

-One source cites and article on the same website that has no citations itself, making it invalid.

-The second source has mention of reproductive toxicity studies and the levels at which this occurred in the animals is absurd (up to 100mg/kg/DAY). If exposure levels were that high, sure as hell the Brazilian gov't should be investigated. That source also even goes on to say " No evidence of neurotoxicity, developmental or otherwise, has been reported in any species. " It just talks about potential pathways and that PPF should be researched more (it probably should be). However, no conclusions can be drawn from this.

-the last one is from a clearly and heavily biased group so the external validity must be called into question.

I'm not concluding that PPF is all clean and dandy and that no further studies involving it should be done, but that this article is pretty poor.


I'm not saying take my word for it or that you're wrong, just please keep yourselves informed in ways that make sense.
Google is a blessing and a curse because it can find people many reputable sources but can also lead someone straight down the path of confirmation bias.

I just googled an article that says eating lettuce will kill you... please do smart research.

EDIT: ... but to actually answer the question regarding going to Disney at this time:

It's a personal choice to weigh the risk/benefit. I think right now the risk is fairly low in Orlando. But if people decide to go, get at least 20% deet in combination with other non-pharmacologic remedies. Just play it smart.

 

[Dismama2boys]

The report you linked to has some clear biases involved:

It spends 90% of the article attempting to refute the correlation between Zika and microcephaly and just tacks on that pyriproxyfen (PPF) could be a cause, citing 3 sources.

-One source cites and article on the same website that has no citations itself, making it invalid.

-The second source has mention of reproductive toxicity studies and the levels at which this occurred in the animals is absurd (up to 100mg/kg/DAY). If exposure levels were that high, sure as hell the Brazilian gov't should be investigated. That source also even goes on to say " No evidence of neurotoxicity, developmental or otherwise, has been reported in any species. " It just talks about potential pathways and that PPF should be researched more (it probably should be). However, no conclusions can be drawn from this.

-the last one is from a clearly and heavily biased group so the external validity must be called into question.

I'm not concluding that PPF is all clean and dandy and that no further studies involving it should be done, but that this article is pretty poor.


I'm not saying take my word for it or that you're wrong, just please keep yourselves informed in ways that make sense.
Google is a blessing and a curse because it can find people many reputable sources but can also lead someone straight down the path of confirmation bias.

I just googled an article that says eating lettuce will kill you... please do smart research.

EDIT: ... but to actually answer the question regarding going to Disney at this time:

It's a personal choice to weigh the risk/benefit. I think right now the risk is fairly low in Orlando. But if people decide to go, get at least 20% deet in combination with other non-pharmacologic remedies. Just play it smart.

Of course someone took issue with this.....it only took longer than I thought. I believe I stated that I quickly googled it. I could have conversations for days about bias. In fact, any time large entities with deep pockets and huge lobbies stand to gain much from something (in this case, Zika being the cause of the increase in microcephaly), it should give one pause. That alone is reason to be a bit skeptical. Nevermind the fact that Zika was discovered almost 70 years ago, but the microcephaly increase is new. I'm not at all trying to convince anyone, just simply stating my opinion. I won't get into all of the reasons why I feel qualified to form an educated opinion, but rest assured that I am comfortable with my belief and the information upon which it is based. I've stated before that it is far from a slam dunk, and I stand by that. Feel absolutely free to disagree, but I am done discussing it here as we are WAY off topic.

 

[Gillbob316]

I hate to diminish the impact of allegedly legitimate medical diseases, and if you were afflicted by any of these, my sincerest sympathies... BUT that said...

I've been going to Florida for a long time.

I wasn't concerned about Bird Flu. I wasn't concerned about Sars. I wasn't concerned about Swine Flu. I wasn't concerned about West Nile Virus.

Somehow I made it out of Florida okay each time.

In September I go once more unto the breach. Wish me Godspeed!

 

[Love Tink]

Due to your condescending tone, I'd rather not engage with you.

You're kidding, right? I mean, no sane person could read that post and find it "condescending." So you were being sarcastic. Right?

 

[Dismama2boys]

You're kidding, right? I mean, no sane person could read that post and find it "condescending." So you were being sarcastic. Right?

Nope. This poster and I had a previous issue, so knowing that helps to see the big picture. And phrases such as "conjure up" are definitely condescending (as is "no sane person", but I digress). Feel free to disagree, although I'm not sure why you would care as it wasn't directed at you.

 

[Joltin Joe IV]

Right. Don't think for yourself. We are not capable of reading and deciding what makes sense. We must listen to the "experts" and do as they instruct. But not all "experts". Only those that are in line with the CDC and the FDA. No one else. The rest are crackpots.

I hope my tone is not interpreted as condescending, I'd like to be above that and just have a good discussion.

I appreciate good sarcasm as much as the next guy, but that really only gets you so far. Right? So what exactly are you recommending? I'm not really sure which portion of my argument you are targeting, so I don't know how to defend it.

Can you share an article from one of these "crackpots"?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Dropping by to remind everyone to please follow the DIS guidelines when posting:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

Everyone is entitled to share their opinions and post any links that may pertain to Mosquitoes and/or Zika transmission. Thanks!

 

[NeuroCindy]

I hate to diminish the impact of allegedly legitimate medical diseases, and if you were afflicted by any of these, my sincerest sympathies... BUT that said...

I've been going to Florida for a long time.

I wasn't concerned about Bird Flu. I wasn't concerned about Sars. I wasn't concerned about Swine Flu. I wasn't concerned about West Nile Virus.

Somehow I made it out of Florida okay each time.

In September I go once more unto the breach. Wish me Godspeed!

I was infected with WNV in northern Illinois. It took months to get over, but moreover, it has permanently changed my immune system.

That being said would I still travel to FL and risk Zika/Chikungunya/Yellow Fever. Yes.