Zika Virus- Spreading

MsBeachNJ

Hi ladies, I know there has been a lot of discussion on this with regard to BabyMoons, I just wanted to share this article that they are expecting it to spread across the US according to the World Health Organization... https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/25/464333063/health-group-says-zika-virus-will-spread-through-the-americas?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160125 

*edited for a grammatical error! 

hollywoodave531

I saw that article yesterday @MsBeachNJ talk about scary! Could you imagine a warning against getting pregnant throughout all of the US? I'm hoping we will be beyond our pregnancies if this happens, but it could affect future plans. Also 3-5 years is a long time to wait for a vaccination. Just this article alone makes me glad we changed our vacation.

MsBeachNJ

@hollywoodave531 I know... I'm definitely not going to Bahamas now either, if they think it can/will spread throughout the country, whats going to stop it from spreading to another island in the short meantime. I can't imagine a US ban/warning against pregnancy... I guess another reason we'll all be moving to Canada!! 

ScoutPout

So scary!

hockeyfan42

Thanks for sharing @MsBeachNJ. I've been nervous about it spreading since we live in the South and the mosquitoes are horrendous.  I get eaten up every year.  

VikingGirl12

It is getting into the high 70s here this week and I'm freaking out! I'm going to target later to get unscented bug spray.

catherinekate

This is terrifying. I can't imagine how stressed pregnant women in these regions (or who have visited) must feel.

hollywoodave531

Yep, Canada here we come!

crdo

hockeyfan42 said:

Thanks for sharing @MsBeachNJ. I've been nervous about it spreading since we live in the South and the mosquitoes are horrendous.  I get eaten up every year.  

Yes, thanks for sharing the update @MsBeachNJ.

"PAHO recommends trying to reduce mosquito populations and avoid bites." How the heck do we do this here, @hockeyfan42? Stay inside screened enclosures for a couple of years until vaccinated? Spray the hell out of the yard? Scary.

NLewis1

I'm glad we don't get mosquitos until July..... Past my due date! Yay for living where the air hurts your face!

hockeyfan42

crdo said:

Thanks for sharing @MsBeachNJ. I've been nervous about it spreading since we live in the South and the mosquitoes are horrendous.  I get eaten up every year.  

Yes, thanks for sharing the update @MsBeachNJ. "PAHO recommends trying to reduce mosquito populations and avoid bites." How the heck do we do this here, @hockeyfan42? Stay inside screened enclosures for a couple of years until vaccinated? Spray the hell out of the yard? Scary.

Pretty much!!! There's a natural swamp behind the house across the street. Talk about mosquito breeding grounds.... UGH. We treat our yard, but there's not much you can do about flying insects... If it spreads up here before June, bye bye BBQs and evening runs.

crdo

hockeyfan42 said:

crdo said:

hockeyfan42 said:

Thanks for sharing @MsBeachNJ. I've been nervous about it spreading since we live in the South and the mosquitoes are horrendous.  I get eaten up every year.  

Yes, thanks for sharing the update @MsBeachNJ.

"PAHO recommends trying to reduce mosquito populations and avoid bites." How the heck do we do this here, @hockeyfan42? Stay inside screened enclosures for a couple of years until vaccinated? Spray the hell out of the yard? Scary.

Pretty much!!! There's a natural swamp behind the house across the street. Talk about mosquito breeding grounds.... UGH. We treat our yard, but there's not much you can do about flying insects... If it spreads up here before June, bye bye BBQs and evening runs.

......looks like we're treating our yard this year, too. Uuuuuggghhhh. Maybe I can amazon prime a couple of beekeeper suits for when we have to walk the dog.

Trinirican3ondway

Wonderful! I live in South Florida. Sure our weather is great but that also means we are full of mosquitoes anytime of the year. Combine that with the fact that our cultural diversity means lots of travelers flying in and out of the Caribbean, Central and South America all year round. Does anyone know where I can rent a bubble for the next 4 1/2 months??

hockeyfan42

crdo said:

......looks like we're treating our yard this year, too. Uuuuuggghhhh. Maybe I can amazon prime a couple of beekeeper suits for when we have to walk the dog.

Whatever works! I'd definitely avoid walking the dog in the dawn/dusk hours when the mosquitoes seem to be the worst. H is talking about sending me to live with my parents up North if the virus spreads here.

crdo

hockeyfan42 said:

crdo said:

......looks like we're treating our yard this year, too. Uuuuuggghhhh. Maybe I can amazon prime a couple of beekeeper suits for when we have to walk the dog.

Whatever works! I'd definitely avoid walking the dog in the dawn/dusk hours when the mosquitoes seem to be the worst. H is talking about sending me to live with my parents up North if the virus spreads here.

Absolutely. It'll be a whole new ballgame this coming mosquito season...

You know, you gotta do what you gotta do. Zika isn't something to mess with.

MsBeachNJ

I think whats even scarier is that they say the mosquitos this is spread by are typically out during the day time... so its not like you can just say ok I'll avoid going outside at dusk/dawn... no apparently you have to wear a hazmat suit all day??

Does anyone know what the effect of the virus is on a newborn/child? Ie once our babies are born? 

mkemommy

I've been following everything zika related like a hawk for months now.  I think I've read every study and article out there available to the public to be honest.  This does not surprise me...the mosquito that transmits zika is already in the U.S.  The spring/summer is going to be rough on pregnant ladies if the CDC doesn't get a better handle on this.  

@MsBeachNJ - I haven't seen anything yet on zika and it causing microcephaly/brain damage outside of the womb.  I'm sure, like anything though, zika is rougher on newborns if they catch it than adults.

CopperLane

@mkemommy I've been following this like crazy too! We want to Babymoon in Hawaii, but are hesitant to book since the mosquitos carrying dengue are the ones that carry Zika and it may only be a matter of time. But this is our last tropical oasis that is reasonable to get to

crdo

mkemommy said:

I've been following everything zika related like a hawk for months now.  I think I've read every study and article out there available to the public to be honest.  This does not surprise me...the mosquito that transmits zika is already in the U.S.  The spring/summer is going to be rough on pregnant ladies if the CDC doesn't get a better handle on this.  

@MsBeachNJ - I haven't seen anything yet on zika and it causing microcephaly/brain damage outside of the womb.  I'm sure, like anything though, zika is rougher on newborns if they catch it than adults.

Same conclusion here. I haven't been able to find specific information re: harm to infants that contract zika after birth, though I'd think symptoms would be more pronounced due to lack of a more robust system.

hockeyfan42

crdo said:

Absolutely. It'll be a whole new ballgame this coming mosquito season... You know, you gotta do what you gotta do. Zika isn't something to mess with.

H is on the HOA board. I've asked him to bring up the possibility of fogging the neighborhood for mosquitoes periodically at their next meeting. @MsBeachNJ I just read that daytime biting part. UGH.

crdo

hockeyfan42 said:

crdo said:

Absolutely. It'll be a whole new ballgame this coming mosquito season...

You know, you gotta do what you gotta do. Zika isn't something to mess with.

H is on the HOA board. I've asked him to bring up the possibility of fogging the neighborhood for mosquitoes periodically at their next meeting. @MsBeachNJ I just read that daytime biting part. UGH.

Brilliant idea. My H is also on our HOA board, so I'll do the same. Well done.

lolonvive

Never felt lucky for freezing winters until now!
However I have a wedding in Miami in April, and I'll probably wait until the last last minute to book my flight for that reason, who knows how things will have progressed in a couple short months. Pregnant women are also mosquitoes fave snack.

mkemommy

CopperLane said:

@mkemommy I've been following this like crazy too! We want to Babymoon in Hawaii, but are hesitant to book since the mosquitos carrying dengue are the ones that carry Zika and it may only be a matter of time. But this is our last tropical oasis that is reasonable to get to

I hear you.  H and I canceled our trip to St Lucia next month.  It was our last getaway before baby and his 40th birthday present.  We were really sad to cancel but it just isn't worth it in my opinion and my doctor concurred (and she is the most laid-back doctor I've met in a long time). 

SoEnamored

Talked to the Dr about this yesterday.  She said that they (the medical profession in general?) are in reactive rather than proactive mode right now.  There are just so many unknowns.  They're seeing a lot of patients who are scared because they've traveled to affected regions and now need follow-up ultrasounds.  It's heartbreaking.  I hope that the US isn't nearly as hard hit as Brazil.  If you look at pictures of the favelas in Brazil where this is happening, you can see the destitute conditions people live in and all of the standing water.  I hear that the US should see this as a more spotty virus rather than widespread on account of our status as a developed country.  But um, I get eaten alive by mosquitos in the MN summer! And, edit, it looks like the second hardest hit regions in brazil are the most prosperous:

"Both Brazil’s Zika outbreak and the spike in microcephaly have been concentrated in the poor and underdeveloped north-east of the country, though the prosperous south-east, where São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, are the second hardest-hit region. Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympic Games between 5 and 21 August"  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/brazil-zika-virus-health-minister-armed-forces-eradication

CopperLane

mkemommy said:

CopperLane said:

@mkemommy I've been following this like crazy too! We want to Babymoon in Hawaii, but are hesitant to book since the mosquitos carrying dengue are the ones that carry Zika and it may only be a matter of time. But this is our last tropical oasis that is reasonable to get to

I hear you.  H and I canceled our trip to St Lucia next month.  It was our last getaway before baby and his 40th birthday present.  We were really sad to cancel but it just isn't worth it in my opinion and my doctor concurred (and she is the most laid-back doctor I've met in a long time). 

I would have cried. Mosquitos are so hard to avoid, especially if you don't want to slather yourself in permethrin covered clothing. We have thought about doing a getaway in a different part of the US and saving a tropical destination as a family vacation once this baby gets older.

tslmom87

CopperLane said:

@mkemommy I've been following this like crazy too! We want to Babymoon in Hawaii, but are hesitant to book since the mosquitos carrying dengue are the ones that carry Zika and it may only be a matter of time. But this is our last tropical oasis that is reasonable to get to

I live in hawaii. I'd avoid it like the plague. The mosquitoes here are a full out nightmare. They are out 24 hours, which is weird to me and they bite pretty nasty. My daughter was outside for 5 minutes one day and came in with over 20 bites up and down her arm. She was on my porch! ! We can't wait to go to the cold where everything is dead for awhile.

goldie987

I saw this yesterday and man it sucks. Mosquitos love me, I was grabbing something out of the back yard last summer and was out there for literally 30 seconds and came in with 5 mosquito bites. No idea how they managed it. Everything I've read says zika is more dangerous earlier in early pregnancy, particularly the first trimester, but I'm not taking any chances and will be coating myself in bug spray any time I go out come april/may.

NicknShan

We are going to Hawaii in March, trip is booked. I am watching and reading all about the virus very closely. I will be between 31 and 32 weeks at the time, and I will be talking to the doc right up until the flight.

GinnyJ2012

I saw it causes birth defects, what are the effects of infected during third tri? Does anyone know?

SoEnamored

The main birth defect their worried about is microcephaly and other brain damage.  They don't know how it effects the baby at different points in preg.

MeganF08

@GinnyJ2012 My doctor gave me similar feedback to what @SoEnamored said, the bulk of what they know is how it would affect early pregnancy. There is no information yet on what affect, if any, it has on babies in the later stages of pregnancy.

mkemommy

GinnyJ2012 said:

I saw it causes birth defects, what are the effects of infected during third tri? Does anyone know?

No one really knows, which is why the CDC warning is for pregnant women of all trimesters.  Theoretically, if zika is causing microcephaly (and that is still an "if" for the causal relationship between zika and microcephaly) it is likely causing more damage in the earlier trimester, while the baby's brain is still developing rapidly, than later.  

SoEnamored

Interesting chart of seasonal versus year-round risk and reach of the mosquito that carries the virus

https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2016/01/daily-chart-19

HBamama2B

After 5 months on the bump it's official. Canada wins everything. I've told DH to pack up, we're leaving.

alohasoprano

@NicknShan not sure what island you're headed to, but right now big island has dengue fever. It doesn't have the same reputation as Zika but it still can be rough for pregnant women. Just a heads up. It isn't terrible, just plan on bug spray if you're headed to Hawaii island. I believe we're the only island with an outbreak right now. Enjoy your trip. Aloha!

MynaBird

We're vacationing on the big island next month and I talked with my OB about the dengue outbreak. He does volunteer work in Nicaragua and has a lot of experience with dengue. Basically, he said, just use good repellent and avoid evening and morning mosquitoes as much as possible. He says even if you contract dengue, it doesn't put the baby at risk -- it's just really unpleasant and painful while it lasts, and there's not a whole lot they can do for you. 

(Edited to clarify I mean dengue rather than zika.)

CopperLane

AndysWifey342010 said:

CopperLane said:

@mkemommy I've been following this like crazy too! We want to Babymoon in Hawaii, but are hesitant to book since the mosquitos carrying dengue are the ones that carry Zika and it may only be a matter of time. But this is our last tropical oasis that is reasonable to get to

I live in hawaii. I'd avoid it like the plague. The mosquitoes here are a full out nightmare. They are out 24 hours, which is weird to me and they bite pretty nasty. My daughter was outside for 5 minutes one day and came in with over 20 bites up and down her arm. She was on my porch! ! We can't wait to go to the cold where everything is dead for awhile.

It's not the time to be knocked up if you want a nice Babymoon. I am wanting to get AWAY from the cold. Luckily the US still has some nice (though not as warm and beachy) areas we are interest in.

mkemommy

MynaBird said:

We're vacationing on the big island next month and I talked with my OB about the dengue outbreak. He does volunteer work in Nicaragua and has a lot of experience with dengue. Basically, he said, just use good repellent and avoid evening and morning mosquitoes as much as possible. He says even if you contract dengue, it doesn't put the baby at risk -- it's just really unpleasant and painful while it lasts, and there's not a whole lot they can do for you. 

(Edited to clarify I mean dengue rather than zika.)

This is what I read as well...dengue is not as much of a concern for a fetus.  In addition, it is really the second outbreak you get of dengue that makes it really dangerous to you.  I went to India during the dengue outbreak last year during the first trimester.  I felt comfortable with that risk.  I don't feel the same about zika because it seems pretty certain that zika transmits through the placenta.  Whether it causes microcephaly, however, is still not entirely clear...though the evidence is racking up.  Babymoon is on hold for us other than a trip further up north than we already are...not a warm babymoon but it will still be a nice trip away nonetheless.  

GinnyJ2012

I have an appointment with DS1's pediatrician today. I'll ask if she has any extra info about the disease. I'm glad I didn't book our trip to Aruba yet!

MsBeachNJ

@GinnyJ2012 please share any info the doctor gives you!

JuneBaby1984

Hi ladies, I was in Mexico when the travel advisory came up and have been freaking out bc i got a few bites (3 or 4 nothing crazy).  I have been researching alot and trying to logical so as to not stress needlessly (I am super anxious anyways without crazy new viruses all over the news).  So if anyone else is in the same boat..this is what has made me feel better...
1. They have not conclusively proven causality between zika and microcephaly..just correlation so far.
2.  So far the only cases of microcephaly have been in women who contracted the virus in brazil (there have been 500 something pregnant women in columbia and none have had babies with microcephaly so far..also 98 or so in El Salvadore and none so far).
3.  In mexico there have only been 15 cases that were locally contracted all in nuevo leon chiapas, and jalisco.  I google mapped chiapas and it is a 13 hr drive from playa del carmen and cancun, the main tourtisty areas, and nuevo leon is 27 hr drive.
4.  I have a friend who is an infectious disease specialist and he says that the reccomendation to get an ultrasound is more a means for them to track it..not that they are actually too concerned you have it. 

Anyways, I know it is still scary, but just wanted to share as that stuff has made me feel a bit better.  Alot of articles will mention columbia and el salvadore advising to hold off on getting pregnant but don't mention that there has been no microcephaly there yet (sometimes the media is so sketchy like that).