Zika virus concerns

[Dean Marino]

Purely a PERSONAL comment....

Not an issue for us - we are in our60's . It's highly unlikely that we will be having another child. I DO express sympathy for those NOT in this boat . It's not just a "Disney Thing".... what about the local Supermarket? ANY Air Travel to a warmer zone?

 

[Lks123456]

I'm not concerned at all; In my opinion it is typical media, end of the world, apocalyptic, sensational, tabloid journalism to get people to tune into their programs, websites and publications. We heard the impending doom from the Swine Flu, Ebola, West Nile virus, SARS, and now Zika Virus over the last 10 years or so... I'm not making light of these serious illnesses, but I'm not going to live my life in fear of breathing next to someone 5 feet away, I'm not going to carry a tube of hand sanitizer and use it every time I touch something, and I'm not going to wear a full suit of armor in 90 degree temperatures in June to keep from getting bit by a mosquito; I'm simply not going to fear these viruses anymore than I am allowing terrorism from keeping me from going to WDW.

I feel the same way about most of these big health scares, but since I am pregnant...I'm taking it more seriously, than say Ebola. I will be well into my third trimester when I travel to Florida, past the early stages of pregnancy where this is more of an issue (I assume). Anyway, I get what you are saying...but as a pregnant woman, you have to think twice. If I weren't pregnant, I wouldn't worry one bit.

That said - my OB isn't concerned and says to go. I would be devestated if we had to cancel bc my kids are so excited.

 

[suebeelin]

i think the concern is your first trimester. However they don't have enough info on how likely it is to have issues even if you've been infected during your first trimester. There isn't enough data. I've also read that many ppl in Asia have immunity bc they were infected when young so it's not an issue as they approach childbearing age.

That being said, I wouldn't be worried if I were in my 3rd trimester. However, if i was planning or hoping to get pregnant, then it might give me pause.

This girl I know is ambivalent about getting pregnant again (doesn't know if she wants three). She's planning on going to Brazil in August. I told her that if it were me, and there's a chance I could be preggie and in Brazil, I might have concerns.

Thankfully I'm almost 45. Very unlikely I'll get pregnant again. So Zika not an issue for me

 

[crisi]

i think the concern is your first trimester. However they don't have enough info on how likely it is to have issues even if you've been infected during your first trimester. There isn't enough data. I've also read that many ppl in Asia have immunity bc they were infected when young so it's not an issue as they approach childbearing age.

That being said, I wouldn't be worried if I were in my 3rd trimester. However, if i was planning or hoping to get pregnant, then it might give me pause.

This girl I know is ambivalent about getting pregnant again (doesn't know if she wants three). She's planning on going to Brazil in August. I told her that if it were me, and there's a chance I could be preggie and in Brazil, I might have concerns.

Thankfully I'm almost 45. Very unlikely I'll get pregnant again. So Zika not an issue for me

If it were me, I'd pregnancy test a month before going, and cancel if I was pregnant. Then I'd use birth control, have my doctor run a blood test when I returned, and then stop using birth control. I'd probably do the same with any tropical trip - including Florida - at this point in time. But I'm 49, so like you, not many concerns.

Now, if I lived in a tropical area, that would be a lot harder to think through. Right now, risk is low in a place like Florida. But the mosquito that carries this does inhabit Florida.

 

[disneynutz]

The reality is they don't know much about the virus and it's affect on anyone. First you got it through being bit by a mosquito, then sex, now saliva or other fluids. When other viruses first were discovered it took years for the health community to fully understand the total impact on humanity.

Bill

 

[Sur]

The reality is they don't know much about the virus and it's affect on anyone. First you got it through being bit by a mosquito, then sex, now saliva or other fluids. When other viruses first were discovered it took years for the health community to fully understand the total impact on humanity.

Bill

As with many illnesses passed through contact with blood, it is often then passed through other bodily fluids, hence the precautions taken by health care workers. It's not sex itself, it's the contact of bodily fluids during sex- protected sex through use of a latex condom often prevents the contact of bodily fluids and therefore no spread of disease. The couple who spread the Zika through sex were having relations that allowed contact of bodily fluids with one another. Hope this isn't TMI on this thread, but clarification prevents misunderstanding.
Sharing of needles (even in usage such as insulin injections), tattoos without fresh needles, and other means of blood transmission, as seen in hepatitis B cases, are similar to the transmission of Zika.

 

[Ariel8676]

This virus isn't new though....its been around since the 40's

 

[crisi]

This virus isn't new though....its been around since the 40's

Its new to this hemisphere. In areas of the world where it has been, you get infected as a child, your bodies immune system takes care of it, and its done. It isn't a serious illness in children or adults. By the time you are a fertile woman, you can't get Zika because you've had it.

However, we now have a population without natural immunity that are childbearing age and a high correlation between zika and microcephaly.

 

[MapleGirl]

DH and I are trying to conceive. I'm planning to go to WDW with a friend at the very end of February. I am mildly concerned, but not overly so. I'm not pregnant yet and won't be while in FL. If I were pregnant and planning a trip to FL, I would discuss it with my OB.

(I'm glad to see this thread. While I say that I'm not concerned, I did search the boards for a Zika thread. )

 

[jahber]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and live in Orlando. I haven't heard anything from my midwife that has me concerned--and trust me, she would have been bringing it up if it were a concern. None of my pregnant friends have so much as mentioned it, either. It's just not a problem here right now. And if you are diligent about bug spray and/or not being outside at dawn or dusk, you should be fine even if we do start seeing cases. I wouldn't blame anyone for canceling out of an abundance of caution, but we also don't need to panic.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm not personally concerned about it for myself because I'm beyond danger of becoming pregnant. If I were a newlywed & thinking about starting a family or if I were younger and already pregnant I would be more concerned. If I were one of these later two I would most definitely be using a mosquito repellant with Deet in it as has been advised. Deet is supposed to repel the type of mosquitos that carry this virus.

(The problem as I see it with this virus if they don't come up with a vaccine somewhat soon is that it has the potential to impact future generations by essentially wiping them out if it spreads to the point that everyone starts having babies with encephalitis. That would pretty much kill any future population growth.)

 

[Mokat76]

Is there some reason a person taking reasonable precautions, like using a good mosquito repellant, won't be protected? I don't know about those and pregnancy, but if a deet-based repellant is safe, why not just spray it on and forego some of the worry?

 

[MapleGirl]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and live in Orlando. I haven't heard anything from my midwife that has me concerned--and trust me, she would have been bringing it up if it were a concern. None of my pregnant friends have so much as mentioned it, either. It's just not a problem here right now. And if you are diligent about bug spray and/or not being outside at dawn or dusk, you should be fine even if we do start seeing cases. I wouldn't blame anyone for canceling out of an abundance of caution, but we also don't need to panic.

This is a really helpful post from someone with 'boots on the ground intel'. Thanks for posting!

 

[jahber]

This is a really helpful post from someone with 'boots on the ground intel'. Thanks for posting!

You're welcome. I know it can be difficult to gauge the situation when you don't live in the area in question. But honestly, we aren't worrying at this point.
And a quick internet search will show that this virus has been around for decades and populations are still thriving because people have natural immunity now. We are just in that scary phase where we aren't immune and can't predict what will happen to OUR generation of mothers and babies. We'll cross that bridge if we come to it. Hopefully with a way to keep pregnant women and their babies safe!

 

[wench]

I was more worried about Ebola than I am about Zika. But, I'm also in the situation where I will not be getting pregnant again. I think most pregnant women visiting WDW would be fairly safe. The only precaution I might suggest they take that may be out of the norm for some, would be to avoid the ferries. Or avoid them at night at least. That is the only time I really see a mosquito issue. They never get me too bad, but they ate my son alive on our last trip going from WL to FW for HDDR.

 

[LadyBeBop]

No Disney trips planned for the future. I'm well beyond child-bearing age, but I'm more worried about my daughter and possible future grandchildren. She has been trying to conceive for almost three years without success. For one thing, she lives in Louisiana, but I think she's far enough north that she doesn't have to worry too much about mosquitos carrying Zika. She just got off of a Caribbean cruise a month ago, and she has another one planned for late summer. That concerns me.

 

[crisi]

No Disney trips planned for the future. I'm well beyond child-bearing age, but I'm more worried about my daughter and possible future grandchildren. She has been trying to conceive for almost three years without success. For one thing, she lives in Louisiana, but I think she's far enough north that she doesn't have to worry too much about mosquitos carrying Zika. She just got off of a Caribbean cruise a month ago, and she has another one planned for late summer. That concerns me.

I'm sorry to hear about her struggles. One thing to recognize - as someone who spent three years trying to get pregnant (then gave up and got a surprise baby) - is that she can't put her life on hold for something that might not ever happen.

 

[suebeelin]

Strange- I'm the first person to get bitten by a mosquito- be it while living in SF (August every year for four years), hiking with people who think I'm making up that there are mosquitos around bc no one else was bitten, or just being the target of mosquitos in NJ, Asia, you name it, if they are around, they love me.

But I've never gotten bitten by a mosquito a Disney. Granted we go between October and January. Food for thought.