ZIKA IN FLORIDA!!! GOV. CONFIRMS LOCAL TRANSMISSION

[declansdad]

Some people just aren't OK with merely "minimizing the risk" when it comes to the risk of having a baby with an underdeveloped brain.

There are many things a person has to do to minimize the risks when pregnant.

 

[jhammond3966]

The population/abundance of these mosquitos like all mosquitos is greatly impacted by seasonal temperatures and conditions. That said, central and south Florida never really have mosquitos go away like the Midwest and northeast. I was curious about this so I looked it up. The linked study below shows that the prevalence of these Zika carrying mosquitos is super high through October, barely drop in November, then seem to be less but certainly not gone in December-March. Most of the rest of the country, they go away completely during December-March, but not central and south Florida. The risk will be "less" then but never zero. Short of a vaccine, this risk is not going away anytime soon. I don't want to be alarmist, but I doubt this is going to be a one season problem. Mosquitos are impossible to eradicate.

This is really going to hit attendance at Disney and every other theme park and vacation destination, beach, resort in the southeast hard from now until a vaccine or other medicine is developed.

It concerns me and we are not even planning on having any more children.

My only suggestion is to fully educate yourself if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant or are not preventing. Then make an educated choice on what is best for you and what amount of risk given the severity of the potential outcome is acceptable to you and your family. I am certainly not saying to not go, but the risk is not zero and is not going away.

http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/...edes-aegypti-in-the-contiguous-united-states/

 

[Planogirl]

I'm concerned too. What if people who aren't thinking of having kids get bit because they're not too worried about it so they don't take precautions? Of course then they go home to wherever and get bit at home and that mosquito has it.

Not that I think that precautions are foolproof. I use repellant but still get bit sometimes.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are many things a person has to do to minimize the risks when pregnant.

Sure. And each person has to decide which risks they are willing to accept. A small risk of microcephaly is one I would not want to take for a nonessential Disney trip. If I lived there I would spray, wear long sleeves and hope for the best. It's all one big cost/benefit analysis and everyone's calculus is different on this.

 

[jhammond3966]

I'm concerned too. What if people who aren't thinking of having kids get bit because they're not too worried about it so they don't take precautions? Of course then they go home to wherever and get bit at home and that mosquito has it.

Not that I think that precautions are foolproof. I use repellant but still get bit sometimes.

Sorry, I was trying to be PC in my post, but by "precautions" i meant precautions to prevent unplanned pregnancy. I haven't read enough on this to really say, but it sounds like the virus doesn't really hurt a healthy adult or child. But if a mother is infected with the virus while pregnant, then the fetus can have its development severely impacted including microcephaly which is really bad. So you really have to put this risk in that context - are any of the females on the trip pregnant or in that point in time in their lives where they are having or may have children.

Mosquito repellants help but are never 100%

 

[Planogirl]

Sorry, I was trying to be PC in my post, but by "precautions" i meant precautions to prevent unplanned pregnancy. I haven't read enough on this to really say, but it sounds like the virus doesn't really hurt a healthy adult or child. But if a mother is infected with the virus while pregnant, then the fetus can have its development severely impacted including microcephaly which is really bad. So you really have to put this risk in that context - are any of the females on the trip pregnant or in that point in time in their lives where they are having or may have children.

Mosquito repellants help but are never 100%

I was really referring to the comments that one can take precautions when pregnant. Those might minimize but wouldn't be foolproof.

I think that we agree.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This was just on my local new's website. In the article it does talk a bit about the Theme Parks in FL including what they are doing in response to Zika concerns:

http://www.kctv5.com/story/32577800/officials-encourage-travelers-not-to-shun-florida-for-zika

I'm all for people making their own personal decisions on their own and as I've mentioned in other threads Zika is not something we fully understand at this point and what we do understand changes over time.

Also TBH it's not exactly easy to compare how different countries handle things. In the above article it said: "The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday there were no plans to recommend limiting travel to South Florida." However another poster discussed what the UK's recommendations were now (avoid non-essential travel to FL).

Also wanted to note as I've mentioned in other threads FL is not the only place where potential zika-carrying mosquitoes are at.

 

[Bluestars]

If I were pregnant or trying to become pregnant, I would steer clear of any areas where the Zika virus was contracted in that particular area. When I was pregnant, I didn't travel during that time anyway because of morning sickness and my stomach being so big that I just didn't feel like traveling. Because of the severe birth defects caused by the Zika virus, I don't think it's overkill for pregnant women to limit travel during their pregnancy. I read that some people can get the virus and not even know it, so there may very well be many more cases than reported.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Because there are steps that you can take to minimize the risk.

Yes, you can minimize, but not eliminate the risks. It's not a chance, I'd be willing to take. The potential birth defects are devastating. JMO

 

[gemini2727]

I hope you don't have to cancel either. I do believe that if you have family members who are pregnant, they should think about cancelling, if they are not I think there are reasonable precautions that people can take and still enjoy the trip.

I wouldn't be able to enjoy any trip where, after taking the above-mentioned reasonable precautions, it was even a remote possiblity that I could be bitten and have my baby suffer such devastating results. I've taken care of microcephalic and anencephalic babies as a nurse - simply heartbreaking.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

well here's what the CDC actually has to say about zika areas - which now includes the US..

i can just see people wearing long sleeves and long pants while visiting WDW in the inferno of july heat.....lovely vacation to be sure...
while worrying about being bitten by a mosquito...

You can get clothing that is long sleeve and long pants that doesn't really make it more hot for the summer. Right now, my daughter is wearing long sleeve shirt with a hood and long pants that is very light and breathable (heat index today was 109). It is clothing that you can protect yourself from the sun and bugs. She loves them and says she can't really tell the difference in heat between shorts and the outfit she has on now.

 

[powellrj]

I was blowing the whole thing off and said nobody around here will get it. I had to eat my words when a few days later when it came out in the news that the first person in our state to test positive was a professor at DD's school. Granted she had been out of the country doing mission work, but it did give me something to think about.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You can get clothing that is long sleeve and long pants that doesn't really make it more hot for the summer. Right now, my daughter is wearing long sleeve shirt with a hood and long pants that is very light and breathable (heat index today was 109). It is clothing that you can protect yourself from the sun and bugs. She loves them and says she can't really tell the difference in heat between shorts and the outfit she has on now.

Could you provide links to the pants & shirts? Those would be great for the FL sun. Thanks

 

[Planogirl]

I've been bitten through clothing before or maybe a mosquito crawled inside my shirt?

 

[Jennasis]

Unless one is pregnant or planning to becoming pregnant in the immediate future, Zika virus is of little concern.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Zika is sexually transmitted, so frankly, that puts everyone at risk. Now at the moment it is minimal risk, however once you start looking for it, you find it.

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/clinical-guidance/sexualtransmission.html

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I've been bitten through clothing before or maybe a mosquito crawled inside my shirt?

Yes mosquitos can bite through clothing. Full coverage clothing treated with permethrin could help, but I don't imagine that's the best option in the summer heat.

 

[BigAlsGal]

One day this thread will sit quietly next to the Ebola thread and they can snuggle together.

 

[Jennasis]

The actual Zika virus is a mild virus. Aches, maybe a fever...blah blah, for a week or two (I've read the CDC info about it). Then it clears from your blood with no lasting effects and life marches on. So, again, UNLESS YOU ARE PREGNANT OR PLANNING TO BECOME PREGNANT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, Zika is of little concern.

 

[mom2rtk]

The actual Zika virus is a mild virus. Aches, maybe a fever...blah blah, for a week or two (I've read the CDC info about it). Then it clears from your blood with no lasting effects and life marches on. So, again, UNLESS YOU ARE PREGNANT OR PLANNING TO BECOME PREGNANT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, Zika is of little concern.

From what I understand, that is entirely correct.

But those who dismiss concern for women who have a chance of becoming pregnant are doing a real disservice.