Pregnant worried about Zika - advice?

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this but I just found out I am expecting a few days ago and we are supposed to leave for Florida Sunday. We are spending 3 days in Disney and 5 in Fort Myers. I haven't been following Zika too much but once learning I was pregnant started doing some research to make sure it was safe for me to travel to Florida and now I'm freaking out a little. I know there are no current cases that were obtained in Florida but feel that could happen at any moment. Should I consider cancelling my trip or am I overrecating? If we do go I will be taking extra precautions.

 

[davper]

I have never been bit by a mosquito in Disney. But if I were in your shoes, I would take added precaution of repellent. Better safe than sorry.

 

[NJlauren]

By no means am I a doctor, so my first advice is call your obgyn and ask them for their advice.

Would I go yes, would I be wearing bug spray and long sleeves/pants if it wasn't to hot yes. It isn't in Florida yet as far as I know but I would take precautions and enjoy my self.

Have a fabulous trip.

 

[walker0829]

By no means am I a doctor, so my first advice is call your obgyn and ask them for their advice.

Would I go yes, would I be wearing bug spray and long sleeves/pants if it wasn't to hot yes. It isn't in Florida yet as far as I know but I would take precautions and enjoy my self.

Have a fabulous trip.

Not that I'm trying to cause undue worry but it is in fact a problem in a few parts of Florida. I'm not sure if it's in the Disney-Orlando area yet so as others have mentioned, talk to your Doctor about the best approach.

 

[NJlauren]

Not that I'm trying to cause undue worry but it is in fact a problem in a few parts of Florida. I'm not sure if it's in the Disney-Orlando area yet so as others have mentioned, talk to your Doctor about the best approach.

Fair, and that's why I said as far as I know. And my advice is ask your doctor.

This whole things has me freaked out, that's for sure!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I live in Florida and according to the news all cases of Zika have come from outside of the county.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article63162887.html

 

[KateP85]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I live here, so not much I can do. There have been cases in Florida, including at least one in Orange and Osceola counties. But all cases have come from outside the country so far.

It hasn't really been all that hot recently, we've only just hit warmer temps so not many mosquitos around. I would bring bug spray, maybe wear long sleeves and long pants if you're really worried, but I think you'll be fine.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Try not to worry. Truthfully, they have not conclusively proven that Zika is the cause of the problem. They have found it in a very small percentage of the babies with microcephaly, and IMO are jumping to conclusions. Looking at the actual data may make you feel better - it does for me. Having said that, though, I live on the Texas coast, which has a huge mosquito problem as well. I normally avoid chemical repellent, because I don't want my kids exposed to DEET, but if I get pregnant this year I will likely use it. I would not cancel my trip, but that's a personal choice. If you will have anxiety the whole time, then don't go. No one would judge you .

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

If it were my baby, thinking that I would "probably" be fine just wouldn't cut it.

I wouldn't stay home, but I would absolutely use bug spray. It will give you peace of mind.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I would definitely heed the advice of my doctor. I'm also fairly certain my doctor would tell me to go and wear some bug spray.

 

[hcortesis]

I saw someone write their thoughts on another forum a few weeks ago.

"I'm 99.9% sure I won't get bitten by a mosquito with the Zika virus. But I'm 100% sure I would never ever forgive myself if I was bitten and contracted the virus while pregnant".

 

[ldauksch]

I found bug repellant clips at Walmart in the camping section before our last trip. You can clip it on your clothes so you don't have to spray your body or my plan was to clip it on my daughter's stroller since I knew she wouldn't leave it on her clothes (she was 22 months.) We didn't end up using them because we didn't have any issues (normally I'm a mosquito magnet) so I can't comment on the effectiveness but just wanted to throw it out there as a suggestion.

 

[Juliet25]

Honestly, I don't think I could chance it. I had horrible anxiety with my first pregnancy, and worrying about Zika would have pushed me over the edge. The link between Zika and birth defects is pretty much established and being infected in the first trimester seems to up the chances of microcephely (if I'm understanding it correctly).

That said, I think you can go and take precautions and be just fine. Knowing my tendency to worry, I feel if I were pregnant I would not be going to Florida. It would just be inviting worry. Essentially, I think the risk of infection is low, but it's not zero and that would really cause me concern. I wouldn't think anyone was crazy for going, however (if that makes sense). I just know that I, personally, would be too stressed to enjoy myself. FWIW, mosquitos love me, but I don't recall them being a problem at WDW.

Congrats on the pregnancy. I'm sorry you have be concerned about this virus.

Here's a pdf on Zika, pregnancy, and travel from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zika-pregnancytravel.pdf

 

[disneykelly]

Zika can be spread in others ways. A few states have reported cases of sexually transmitted zika. Someone goes south, gets bit and comes up and spreads it.

 

[Baptist]

I would not cancel your trip. If you were going to Central America or other places where the virus is widespread, then absolutely cancel your trip.

I understand your worry. As a father, I would do anything to protect my family.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Use mosquito repellent. That is all you can do besides cancelling or postponing. And have the rest of the family use it as well.

I'm not sure there are many cases (if any) in the US that were actually acquired here via a mosquito bite. They've been in persons who traveled outside the country and in persons who contracted it via sexual contact.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Disney does a great job spraying for bugs. But if you want to be extra cautious, avoid the resort water fronts, ferry and boat transportation; it's the only place on property I've ever gotten a bug bite.

 

[dachsie]

You can also buy wrist bands that are repellants. So I would use spray AND one of those bands. But I would first talk to your doctor.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Disney does a great job spraying for bugs. But if you want to be extra cautious, avoid the resort water fronts, ferry and boat transportation; it's the only place on property I've ever gotten a bug bite.

I agree with those locations as well as the moats - especially Fantasmic's. Fantasmic performers use repellant due to being on and near the moat. I've been bitten while sitting in the amphitheater - the worst was when a service dog was sitting nearby. Everyone in our area was bitten by mosquitoes who seemed to be attracted by the dog.

I've been bitten while waiting near Splash and while walking through Fantasyland. Keeping repellant wipes with you and using them is the best way to be proactive.

 

[ArwenMarie]

From what I've read it seems like the birth defects are linked to maternal infection in the first trimester. I'm not sure where you live now (a cooler climate?) but I wouldn't risk it for unnecessary travel. That's just me though. Definitely ask your doctor, that is the best source.