Zika: If you or your wife were expecting, would you avoid traveling to carribbean COMING MARCH?

[Zeze]

Title says it all.

I wanna go on a cruise to somewhere warm coming spring. Wife isn't having it and doesn't want to go anywhere south of USA due to Zika virus.

1. Do you think that's unreasonable? I know media always over exaggerate things, but it only takes 1 virus to destroy our life. I think her assessment is pretty common. Any flights to central & south America have dropped like a brick. A single friend of mine will be taking advantage of this by flying everywhere there.

2. Where else can we go that's warm & tropical? Anywhere outside of Caribbean would be very very expensive from US.

 

[zinfamous]

Unreasonable? risk giving birth to a microcephalic baby because you want to play in the water on a barfy boat for a week?

Hamsters are more careful with the bioenergy reserves required to produce young in response to stressful environments than you seem to be.

There's always Hawaii

 

[Zeze]

Yes, which is why I began asking here.

Just stumbled on the CDC. The answer is a resounding no. Bummer.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information

 

[purbeast0]

LOL hell no I wouldn't avoid traveling there. Just like I didn't hesitate to go to Europe right after all this recent terrorist attack shit.

I also wouldn't go on a cruise though unless it was like free. You have more of a chance getting something from someone on the boat than you do getting Zika, by like 2 billion percent (yes I made that number up).

 

[Jeeebus]

We just did a 7 day cruise to Belize, Honduras, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.

Zip lined through the jungle. Lazy river through the jungle. Open air jeep through... err... the jungle.

Not a single mosquito the entire trip. I'm loaded with bites all over me here in Florida, so ya, I wouldn't be too concerned.

If you're that worried, take a Hawaii or French Polynesia cruise. That way all you need to worry about is witch doctors and head shrinkers.

 

[cbrunny]

Holy hell. I'd rather shower in vinegar for a year than risk Zika infecting my unborn child. Media overblow or not, the disease is real and the risk is real.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I wouldn't even bother. Caribean isn't going anywhere, patience.

 

[master_shake_]

No fucking way.

 

[Linux23]

It's all bs. There is no danger. I'd do it

 

[brianmanahan]

i'm a man and i don't have a wife, so yes, i would go to the caribbean

 

[KMFJD]

I'll be going there for a couple of months shortly, can't remember the last time i was bit by a mosquito there though....

 

[Paratus]

Apparently its possible for the virus to live in your semen for months ....

Living on the gulf coast I'm glad my wife and I are done having kids.

 

[dethman]

no. go to hawaii.

edit: i meant no dont go.

 

[Crono]

I'd be more worried about other diseases and illnessed you can get from travelling in general. Not that you should actually be worried... just aware. Zika coverage is overblown. Mostly because of politics involving funding.

 

[ponyo]

Thanks OP. I checked Caribbean cruise prices because of this thread and departures for November and December 2016 are on major flash sale right now. I don't know if that's due to the Zika fears but I checked both 7 days Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises and prices have dropped to around $600 per person inside and $700 per person for outside balcony room. That's great. I had already booked and made final payment last month but called Costco Travel anyway to see if I could get fare reduction or free upgrade. They couldn't get fare reduction since I had already made final payment but they called the cruise line and was able to get my mom and my aunt's inside room upgraded to the deluxe balcony room for free. You're normally out of luck with any kind of price protection once you make final payment on a cruise but it never hurts to ask. Costco Travel came through for me.

 

[purbeast0]

I think I saw more mosquitos last night in my backyard while I was out there for 30 minutes with my son than I have seen in my 10+ trips to the Caribbean. I was getting eaten up on my legs and arms, hope I don't have Zika!

 

[IronWing]

OP, you just got to use the right sales pitch.

Zika ==> smaller head ==> easier birth FTW!

 

[zinfamous]

I love it when the ATOT epidemiologists chime in. There are very simple facts about the reality of the world that you can't simply brush off by comparing it to the experiences you have in your local neighborhood:

--aedis aegypti carry Dengue, Yellow Fever virus, Malaria, and Zika. These are natural vectors for these viruses and can have devastating consequences on an individual if not properly treated or in some cases, despite proper treatment.
--these diseases are prominent in tropical and subtropical regions of the planet because, well, certain mosquitoes really like to live there. Yellow Fever is actually quite prominent in the Florida Keys, despite efforts to eradicate aedis
--aedis is an ankle biter. It doesn't matter how many mosquito bites you see on your shoulder and declare yourself immune from diseases forever because you are some golden god--you were not bitten by a disease vector.
--even if you are some golden god immune from all disease, you are merely one little data point in the data set of of the human population. disease works against populations--not individuals.
--we can do some amazing things with vaccines and disease prevention these days, but no method is anywhere near as effective as simply avoiding hot spots when advised.
--all it takes is one experience for an individual to understand these consequences. Zika on a normal, non-pregnant adult is incredibly mild--basically a flue-like fever and a rash that clears in a week or two. I think the symptoms are generally treated with OTC aspirin. The virus can hang around for months, though, and is easily transferred sexually. The consequences on the fetus of a pregnant woman are absolutely devastating.
--I wouldn't wish microcephaly on anyone's unborn child, and I sure hope those that callously advise other pregnant/trying to conceive couples to go ahead and "not worry about the chances!" don't wish it on them either-because that is what such recommendations advise, and it is not a gamble anyone should lose when it is 100% easy to win when you have that choice.

 

[ControlD]

Well, I think zin just dropped the mike on this one.

And hell no, I wouldn't go anywhere near a zika positive area if I were still in my spawning stage.

 

[gorcorps]

Every time you argue in favor of the cruise you're just sending the message that you don't trust your wife's opinion, and that your fun is more important than her well being and the health of your child.

I refuse to sugar coat this message for the OP: quit being such a selfish prick

 

[clamum]

Hell no ZIKA is going to murder us all

 

[Elganja]

We just did a 7 day cruise to Belize, Honduras, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.

Zip lined through the jungle. Lazy river through the jungle. Open air jeep through... err... the jungle.

Not a single mosquito the entire trip. I'm loaded with bites all over me here in Florida, so ya, I wouldn't be too concerned.

If you're that worried, take a Hawaii or French Polynesia cruise. That way all you need to worry about is witch doctors and head shrinkers.

what cruise? that sounds badass

 

[UncleWai]

If you wanna buy a smaller size pillow, go ahead

 

[Homerboy]

What's your stance on abortions OP?

 

[Jeeebus]

what cruise? that sounds badass

Norwegian Getaway out of Miami.