Florida -Zika- ahhh

mkc123 · August 2016

My family has had a vacation planned for a big group of us to go to North Captiva Island. My in laws rented a house on the beach, paid for plane tickets for my two kids, myself and my husband. We are leaving Saturday. My OB just called and said they strongly recommend I cancel any non essential travel to Florida since Zika is now in Miami. If I don't go, I'm not comfortable sending my two girls, so basically I'd be taking a half of the people out of the vacation and costing them a ton of money.

cantalopes24 · August 2016

We're going to Ft Myers next week, so pretty close. I wouldn't go to Miami but I am comfortable being that far away. I will spray myself down in bug spray of course but my OB didn't specifically mention not to travel.

Tennis11785 · August 2016

I'm not a dr, but I'd say you're probably ok. North Captiva is more than 2 hours from Miami. I'd probably just bring a ton of bug spray and as lame as it sounds, stay inside a lot.

joyful08 · August 2016

I'm going to Orlando in October. Bug spray everywhere.

MrsDrKirkpatrick · August 2016

I would say if your doctor recommends you don't go, I wouldn't go. Hopefully your family understands, and is supportive. You can never be too careful, and with the consequences being possibly catastrophic with the severe birth defects, I wouldn't risk it. I would follow doctors orders on this one.

Xstatic3333 · August 2016

I agree, I'd follow doctor's orders. My midwife banned me from Florida even before the recent warning, probably to prevent me having to cancel plans like you are facing.

cinderin · August 2016

I wouldn't go. I'd be OK with my H taking care of our kiddo, so I'd be ok with them going but likely would talk to the OB about what protection H would need to take re sex when he returned.

scottipino · August 2016

With the Zika concerns in the Caribbean most airlines and such were refunding money. Just get a note from your doctor and discuss with airline and such. I personally wouldn't risk it. We are all end of first tri/beginning of 2nd tri which means at the greatest risk. While I agree that this is not Miami, there is till obviously risk in the area since there is the same vectors(mosquitoes). Baby safety comes first.

logison · August 2016

I live in Florida so not really an option for me to avoid it. Zika has been found in a 1 square mile area in Miami not the whole state not even the whole city of Miami. I think being over 2 hours away you will be fine. Just bring lots of bug spray. I can also say in the 10 years I have lived here I don't remember ever being bitten by a mosquito at the beach.

expandcontract · August 2016

cinderin said:

I wouldn't go. I'd be OK with my H taking care of our kiddo, so I'd be ok with them going but likely would talk to the OB about what protection H would need to take re sex when he returned.

I wouldn't let my husband go either. What if he contracts it? He could give it to you. And BTW, I'm extra cautious because even though today they may say that it doesn't spread person to person except by sex......the truth is they really don't know everything. They are still learning and investigating. So while that may hold true for today, it may be completely different advice tomorrow. And I won't take chances with something this serious..

Edit: spelling

peachesnbean · August 2016

So, I am the Paranoid Pam that went inside at a baby shower this weekend after I slapped a mosquito on my arm... In Indiana. I know I am extreme, I have a lot of hypochondriac anxieties so I am being as cautious as possible. If it were me I would try to get the whole trip refunded for my family and use the $ as a fall getaway somewhere north.

Megs7911 · August 2016

logison said:

I live in Florida so not really an option for me to avoid it. Zika has been found in a 1 square mile area in Miami not the whole state not even the whole city of Miami. I think being over 2 hours away you will be fine. Just bring lots of bug spray. I can also say in the 10 years I have lived here I don't remember ever being bitten by a mosquito at the beach.

THIS. so much of this. I also live in Florida and cannot avoid being here. Plus, the CDC has said the "infected area" is about 10 city block of North Miami and mosquitoes only fly at most 1.5 miles in their lifetime. North Captiva is on the other coast, and is very secluded. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Wear bug spray with DEET and you'll be fine.

L Jane · August 2016

I wouldn't go.

cinderin · August 2016

my OB said today, no travel to FL. she expects other southern states will also see zika.

Steelerfan78 · August 2016

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/pj/0v58klr0sewy.gif

Right, because your OB knows how mosquitoes migrate and how disease spreads....

momousekee · August 2016

I'd probably go, given how far you'd be from any locally transmitted cases. If the trip were planned further out than next week I'd be more cautious, on the grounds that the situation is evolving.

On the other hand, I switched OBs when he told me I wasn't allowed to travel to destinations above 6000ft because women who move to high elevations during pregnancy have an increased risk of birth defects. So you might consider me a dangerous risk-taker.

avriladorable07 · August 2016

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/UxwLTQCueumZO/giphy.gif

I'm going to Orlando in September... and my OB actually was okay with me going...With the condition I wear a lot of bug spray, and constantly re-apply it, and keep my eye on the news.

mamajama3 · August 2016

IMO I wouldn't go. It's not worth the risk and our babies can't control what happens to them- it's up to us to look out for them. Most likely you'd be ok but it's still a risk I'd say, especially if your doc advised you not to go. Your in laws should understand- they want a healthy grand baby and it's worth any cost of cancelling a vacation (and as PP's said above they may be able to get their money back with your doctor writing a note advising that you don't go).

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