Eastern Caribbean Cruise and Zika Virus

[BWV Dreamin]

We have a DCL Eastern Caribbean cruise booked for October 2017. We are not the least concerned about the Zika virus but many of our friends/family are concerned that we are going. Has anyone cancelled this cruise due to the Zika virus? Any particular precautions to take other than bug spray and not touring during dusk/dawn?

 

[Dug720]

We have a DCL Eastern Caribbean cruise booked for October 2017. We are not the least concerned about the Zika virus but many of our friends/family are concerned that we are going. Has anyone cancelled this cruise due to the Zika virus? Any particular precautions to take other than bug spray and not touring during dusk/dawn?

The Zika mosquitos are active ALL day, not just dawn/dusk.

 

[RosiePA]

We cancelled because we're planning to have a second child. I wouldn't have cancelled otherwise b

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The Zika mosquitos are active ALL day, not just dawn/dusk.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

I am not worried about Zika, but I am done having kids and run no risk of becoming pregnant. If you get it, it is usually fairly mild. Just the birth defects are scary. And it can only trasmitted sexually, so no risk to pregnant family or friends.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No more kids for us. So this is why I'm not worried. Glad to hear it's just mild symptoms if one does get it.

 

[Garyjames220]

We are a young couple. Don't plan in having kids for a good few years

Can someone explain more to me about this Zika virus as I don't no enough about it

I thought it's only if your actually pregnant u need to be worried

 

[Dug720]

We are a young couple. Don't plan in having kids for a good few years

Can someone explain more to me about this Zika virus as I don't no enough about it

I thought it's only if your actually pregnant u need to be worried

Apparently it can live in your blood for like 6 months, so that's why the concern for anyone in child-bearing years.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

We are a young couple. Don't plan in having kids for a good few years

Can someone explain more to me about this Zika virus as I don't no enough about it

I thought it's only if your actually pregnant u need to be worried

They don't know for sure how long the virus lives within the blood and semen/vaginal fluids. Right now they are recommending safe sex for six months after infection. As long as the virus is present in the body, any pregnancy occurring in that time period has risk of the birth defects that Zika can cause.

For non-pregnant adults, the virus symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, headaches, and muscle pain. The symptoms can last up to a week. Some people infected never have any symptoms though.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We are a young couple. Don't plan in having kids for a good few years

Can someone explain more to me about this Zika virus as I don't no enough about it

I thought it's only if your actually pregnant u need to be worried

You might want to have a conversation with your doctor.

 

[Starwind]

We are a young couple. Don't plan in having kids for a good few years

Can someone explain more to me about this Zika virus as I don't no enough about it

I thought it's only if your actually pregnant u need to be worried

CDC website about Zika: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

CDC webpage about symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/symptoms.html note: "Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms."

CDC info re Zika for travelers: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information

CDC infographic (PDF) on how travelers can protect themselves from Zika: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zpk_poster.pdf

 

[Garyjames220]

God sounds awful

How easy is it to catch anyway

 

[BWV Dreamin]

God sounds awful

How easy is it to catch anyway

Personally I'm more concerned about Lyme's disease from our neighborhood ticks than this Zika virus. Since there is no vaccine there's really nothing to be done but use common sense. I'm not going to stop living my life.

 

[ShellieJ0317]

...

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

I live in Florida, and from what they say, we have Zika mosquitos here as well. So...as PP said, I also will not stop living my life and doing the things I love because of it. I look at it the same way that I look at things like terrorism. Not to sounds preachy..., but God is in control.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I cruised the EC in September. I didn't see a single mosquito (or feel a bite) during my time on Tortola, St. Thomas or Castaway. The only time I was bitten was outside of the hotel in Florida at 9:45am.

 

[Jess_S]

I know people who have cancelled Caribbean travel because of Zika, but all of them were planning to become pregnant in the near future. Like many other posters, I am done having kids, so I am not particularly worried about Zika. It's worth noting that there are other mosquito borne illnesses in the Caribbean including something called Chikungunya that sounds absolutely awful and Dengue fever. (I mention this not to freak people out, but to note that there has always been a risk of mosquito borne illness in the Caribbean. It just previously wasn't getting news coverage).

I'm planning to use an insect repellent with DEET on our upcoming trip. I've never been bitten by a mosquito in the Caribbean, but it can't hurt to play it safe.

 

[hubbard53]

Disney had what I called "zika stations" at their parks and hotels last week. It was a couple CMs, some pamphlets on zika, and free Picaridin repellent. They also had he same thing outside the ship on castaway cay. I did not disembark at Nassau so can't say for sure if they have the repellent at all ports.

 

[tee11]

Apparently it can live in your blood for like 6 months, so that's why the concern for anyone in child-bearing years.

I would like to add that newest research (read yesterday) shows that ZIKA is potentially NOT "only a problem for pregnant or TTC couples", is is a problem for any brain that is developing (especially under age of three years old), but also it could have long term effects even on adults. I will see, if I can find this paper.
But ZIKA is no joke and not to be taken lightly.

 

[tee11]

Here is one article. I hope I can link it correctly.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...auses-what-happens-latest-study-a7198876.html