WWGKUD- Travel & Zika

[lgraceh]

Ugh, just typed up a thread and it wouldn't post. TL; DR:

DH and I leave for a cruise in 15 to the Mexican Riviera. The cruise line issued a travel notice specifically for crusies calling into the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Not for Mexico or our cruise. The CDC HAS issued a level 2 warning for Mexico. If we do manage to GKU, I will probably be able to test maybe 2 days before we leave. So, WWYD? Cancel the trip altogether? Only if I get a positive right before we leave? Go and take extra precaution against bites?

[onesweetworld]

It's a personal choice. I have had a few customers TTC cancel because of it. I personally would not but I'm not a doctor. I'd consult with someone in infectious diseases. there are specific doctors in the area that only consult on vaccines when traveling

[requiressnacks]

There are a million different scenarios here and I think this is a really personal choice. I have a Mexico vacation coming up in March and I still haven't decided. I will probably talk with my doctor before making any decisions either way - I would recommend you do the same.

[wildflower810]

I'm in a similar boat... we have a trip scheduled to HI this summer (and that's one of the few places where the virus is spreading in the US). The plan was to start TTC that same month, but now I'm wondering if we ought to push TTC off a month because of that.

Stock up on bug spray for sure, at least.

[easilyunamused]

Like other PPs said, it's a personal choice. I was supposed to go to Mexico in March and MH and I do not feel comfortable, so we are not going. Mexico will always be there, my chance to have a baby will not.

[easilyunamused]

And not to panic or anything, but there have been reports that men can spread it through their sperm. So....yikes.

[littlelion]

I'm in the same predicament. Even though there's only been 2 cases reported in Mexico, I choose not to go if I get a BFP.  My trip wouldn't be until end of Feb and I haven't bought any tickets yet.  If the trip ends up right before I can test I'd still cancel. I'd rather be super safe. Plus I asked my husband if there were a lot of mosquito's where we are going and he said yes. Don't need to be freaking out about a stupid bite. 

[hoopoe]

Jan 29, 2016 12:46:03 GMT -5 wildflower810 said:

I'm in a similar boat... we have a trip scheduled to HI this summer (and that's one of the few places where the virus is spreading in the US). The plan was to start TTC that same month, but now I'm wondering if we ought to push TTC off a month because of that.

Stock up on bug spray for sure, at least.

I haven't heard Zika is spreading in Hawaii...perhaps you are thinking of Dengue fever? There are no travel alerts to Hawaii and no evidence Zika has spread beyond the baby born with microcephaly.  I wouldn't be concerned about traveling to Hawaii.

[PepperPottsJ]

DEET DEET and more DEET

definitely speak with your doctor, but the growing consensus I have heard is TTC - use DEET, preggly cancel your trip.

[peaseblossom55]

My RE recommended we not go to the Bahamas in March, and it's not even in the Bahamas at this point and in the 6 years I've been going ( we go every March) I've been bitten or seen a mosquito. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm not going to go against my doctor's advice anyway especially when doing IVF & PGS

[lgraceh]

Jan 29, 2016 13:28:56 GMT -5 PepperPottsJ said:

DEET DEET and more DEET

definitely speak with your doctor, but the growing consensus I have heard is TTC - use DEET, preggly cancel your trip.

This is pretty much what MH and I have discussed. I need a letter from my doctor to go on the cruise anyway if KU, so an trip to see her would be necessary regardless.

I'm really just hoping AF isn't also on board with us!

[aprilz81]

We have a family cruise that leaves next Saturday (my parents, sister, husband, their 3 kids and us). The only affected area we will be visiting is Mexico and I'm not exactly sure where in Mexico the virus has showed up.

My mom is super stressed out and worried that if I'm pregnant and I get bit that she will never be able to live with herself if something happens to the baby because of her birthday trip.

I'm not overly concerned and here is why:

1) We will be there during the daytime and out to sea long before dusk.
2) We will be at the beach and not near a lot of wooded areas or places with stagnant water.
3) I have to be pregnant, get bit AND get the virus to have a chance for this to affect a pregnancy.
4) I'm going to use DEET as a precaution on all the islands, but especially while in Mexico.

I will say that if I was going to stay at a resort for a week that I would be a lot more concerned. But a cruise where you won't be on land at dusk/night when mosquitos are most active are less of a concern to me personally.

Talk to your doctor and then weigh your options.

[dashook]

We have a trip booked to Oaxaca for a friend's wedding for the last week in February. As of now I am planning to go. If I get KU this cycle, we will know within a few weeks, prior to leaving, and I will speak to my doctor then and weigh my options. I don't really want to think too hard on it unless it's actually an issue.

I could see myself going either way and just loading up big time on the bug spray. But again, my feelings on that might change if I actually have a BFP staring at me.

[emilie]

I probably wouldn't go, but I am paranoid and mosquitoes love me.

wildflower810 AFAIK Zika isn't speading in Hawaii (yet) - the baby born in Hawaii affected by Zika was to a mother who had recently visited Brazil. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[mill23]

I agree, it's totally a personal choice. I don't know what I would do if faced with a BFP but I am super cautious ( and paranoid) about these things so would probably not go. I would be too worried the whole time during the vacation and then the pregnancy. I would probably cancel the trip altogether and maybe go somewhere else without the warning if possible.

[lgraceh]

Jan 29, 2016 16:45:58 GMT -5 mill23 said:

I agree, it's totally a personal choice. I don't know what I would do if faced with a BFP but I am super cautious ( and paranoid) about these things so would probably not go. I would be too worried the whole time during the vacation and then the pregnancy. I would probably cancel the trip altogether and maybe go somewhere else without the warning if possible.

We do have trip insurance, but in this case I think we would get a full refund anyway. We we still fly down to LA most likely and spend our vacation down there. We are worried that not taking the trip at all (if KU) would be super obvious, and I definitely wouldn't be comfortable with people knowing that early. We wold have to think of so creative responses on why we don't have any pics though!

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2016 14:36:45 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

We have a family cruise that leaves next Saturday (my parents, sister, husband, their 3 kids and us). The only affected area we will be visiting is Mexico and I'm not exactly sure where in Mexico the virus has showed up.

My mom is super stressed out and worried that if I'm pregnant and I get bit that she will never be able to live with herself if something happens to the baby because of her birthday trip.

I'm not overly concerned and here is why:

1) We will be there during the daytime and out to sea long before dusk.
2) We will be at the beach and not near a lot of wooded areas or places with stagnant water.
3) I have to be pregnant, get bit AND get the virus to have a chance for this to affect a pregnancy.
4) I'm going to use DEET as a precaution on all the islands, but especially while in Mexico.

I will say that if I was going to stay at a resort for a week that I would be a lot more concerned. But a cruise where you won't be on land at dusk/night when mosquitos are most active are less of a concern to me personally.

Talk to your doctor and then weigh your options.

Not to be a fearmonger, but
...
Please be cautious and remember that you can be bit by a mosquito at any time of the day.

Yes, your chances increase at night, but they aren't exclusively nocturnal creatures.

There are people out there that don't know this and think they can only get bug bites at night.

Best practice is DEET and protective clothing as much as possible.

[wildflower810]

Jan 29, 2016 12:56:20 GMT -5 hoopoe said:

Jan 29, 2016 12:46:03 GMT -5 wildflower810 said:

I'm in a similar boat... we have a trip scheduled to HI this summer (and that's one of the few places where the virus is spreading in the US). The plan was to start TTC that same month, but now I'm wondering if we ought to push TTC off a month because of that.

Stock up on bug spray for sure, at least.

I haven't heard Zika is spreading in Hawaii...perhaps you are thinking of Dengue fever? There are no travel alerts to Hawaii and no evidence Zika has spread beyond the baby born with microcephaly.  I wouldn't be concerned about traveling to Hawaii.

You're right... this is the article I read and what it says is that the specific type of mosquito that carries Zika can be found in Hawaii, my first read through I thought it said mosquitos actually carrying the virus were there. Still, a lot can happen in 6 months and so this is still something that's on my mind.

[mustloveerica]

I'm in Mexico right now! We brought bug spray and just re apply everytime we apply sunscreen. I haven't gotten any bites. I did research zika virus before we came tho. As a level 2 it's not that bad. From what I saw even jf you get it they don't really treat it. You just wait it out. Totally up to you. We weren't going to miss out on our vacation so we just planned to be extra cautious.

[requiressnacks]

Jan 30, 2016 8:31:33 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I'm in Mexico right now! We brought bug spray and just re apply everytime we apply sunscreen. I haven't gotten any bites. I did research zika virus before we came tho. As a level 2 it's not that bad. From what I saw even jf you get it they don't really treat it. You just wait it out. Totally up to you. We weren't going to miss out on our vacation so we just planned to be extra cautious.

Yay for vacation!!! Have fun!