Zika worries

We are not scheduled to cruise the Caribbean until November - but I gotta say the Zika virus has me a bit concerned. Anyone else getting 2nd thoughts about cruising?

It's not the cruising that's the problem. It's the porting.

I don't have a clue how far mosquitos can fly, but I've never seen them when not in sight of land.

Received an email today "Emergency Notification" about a future cruise to the Southern Caribbean from Princess. Deleted it. Not worried.

While the dangers to a pregnant woman and her baby cannot be understated, Zika is pretty much a non-event for everyone else. Only one in five people exposed to the virus contract Zika, and most who do experience symptoms that can easily be passed off as a common cold, and are gone in 5 days or so. So unless one is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, Zika is actually less of a concern than most other things that someone can catch in Central/South America and the Caribbean. If we were expecting or trying to conceive, I wouldn't risk a trip to high risk areas right now. But we are not, so our trip in November is a "go". Also, mosquitos don't do well in windy areas. So being on the water or near the shore, you aren't terribly vulnerable. I have taken many Caribbean cruises and many land-based vacations to the U.S./British Virgin Islands and I honestly cannot recall mosquitos being a problem while on or near the water. If I were going inland to a ziplining adventure or Mayan archeological site, I would try to wear long sleeves and apply DEET.

Unless someone is pregnant/hoping to get pregnant, don't worry about it and use DEET.

Hint: Misquotes have fragile wings so aren't likely to be found on windy beach areas.

My wife and I are still going on our partial transit Panama Canal cruise in December. We'll have plenty of mosquito repellent and cant have any more kids anyway.

From the CDC web site....it's not totally benign in non-pregnant people.

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

Most people infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic. Characteristic clinical findings are acute onset of fever with maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis. Other commonly reported symptoms include myalgia and headache. Clinical illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and case fatality is low. However, there have been cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome reported in patients following suspected Zika virus infection.

...it's not totally benign in non-pregnant people.

No, it's not totally benign. But no tropical disease is. Zika is no better and no worse than any other tropical mosquito-borne illness that everyone has risked for centuries when they travel to the Caribbean or Central/South America. Words like "asymptomatic" and "mild" (in non-pregnancy scenarios) place this lower than (or nor worse than) Chikungunya.

Just me I think when you get off the ship and going on one of the islands you should use mosquito repellent with DEET if you can. JUST To BE SAFE.

Tony

We are not scheduled to cruise the Caribbean until November - but I gotta say the Zika virus has me a bit concerned. Anyone else getting 2nd thoughts about cruising?

Same concerns over and over and it's no concern at all.

From the CDC web site....it's not totally benign in non-pregnant people.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

 

Most people infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic. Characteristic clinical findings are acute onset of fever with maculopapular rash' date=' arthralgia, or conjunctivitis. Other commonly reported symptoms include myalgia and headache. Clinical illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and case fatality is low. However, there have been cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome reported in patients following suspected Zika virus infection.[/quote']

 

Indeed ... only take advice from the CDC and/or your physician -- and not just anyone's opinion on this site. It doesn't ONLY affect women in their childbearing years. This advice is outdated.

 

We were worried about our Caribbean / Canal cruise but did our research and took all precautions. While we did see quite a few mosquitoes, we weren't bitten due to our abundance of caution in clothing and insect repellents (both for our skin and clothing). But the decision was ours after our due diligence and informing ourselves of the risks.

The key is preparation.

Bring insect repellent that is recommended by the CDC and use it.

Keith

Avoid using any product with fragrance and if you plan on a jungle hike, wear long sleeves and pants. You can buy clothing that's insect repellent or buy a spray to use on your clothing. I have an insect repellent buff/kerchief that I used in Africa and while others were bitten multiple times by tsetse flies (horrible things), I didn't get a single bite.

I understand the same mosquitos carry dengue fever, which is more serious as a rule. If you've never worried about dengue fever, then there's no need to worry about zika.

Where are you going to run? Zika-carrying mosquitoes are now in Florida.

Where are you going to run? Zika-carrying mosquitoes are now in Florida.

Link? I live here and there have been no reports of someone contracting Zika from a mosquito bite that they got in state.

The CDC has also warned that the virus can be sexually transmitted. This could be a danger to couples trying to get pregnant. There are recommendations on preventing transmission there as well.

Where are you going to run? Zika-carrying mosquitoes are now in Florida.

Cite your sources. I've seen no reports of this. While the species of mosquito that can carry the disease is endemic to the state, I've seen no report that they have found the disease in the mosquitoes in Florida.

Thank you for the kind responses. I appreciate the suggestions and will get the insect spray with DEET.

Thank you for Wekind responses. I appreciate the suggestions and will get the insect spray with DEET.

We do not use DEET .We use Skin So Soft .I will wear jeans and a hat but with a tee shirt .

While the dangers to a pregnant woman and her baby cannot be understated, Zika is pretty much a non-event for everyone else.

Sorry, but this may be not so. Some male (yes, men) athletes are cancelling their Olympic appearance in August, fearing the virus. They don't get sick, but if they want to have a baby, the virus can be transmitted even if they feel healthy.

Go to the website: Center of Disease Control to read about Zika and also EPA for a list of approved repellents. David Muir, World News Tonight; 7/20/16 Zika in Florida conversation. I'm watching too.

Cite your sources. I've seen no reports of this. While the species of mosquito that can carry the disease is endemic to the state, I've seen no report that they have found the disease in the mosquitoes in Florida.

Is this good enough?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/health/zika-virus-florida.html?_r=0

Everyone panic! This virus like West Nile virus in rare cases can kill you. Most people who have the virus don't even know they have it. In 1999 the first case of WNV hit the U.S. And every year my city (NYC) sends sprayers on trucks and helicopters to fight the mosquitoes . Its one of those things you deal with. I use Deet, have to spray the yard and remove standing water. And I still get bit. Even if the mosquitoes are confied to the south (for now) they will spread. So what to do, not travel or move. Take the precautions the CDC recommends and travel or stay home. Me I'm going to cruise.

Is this good enough?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/health/zika-virus-florida.html?_r=0

Thanks for supplying the source that you based your reply on. However, according to the article there is still no confirmation that the patient's Zika was locally acquired. They are still investigating, and as of yesterday, had still not found any mosquitoes in Florida that contained the virus. So your post was incorrect when you posted, and still is..

Of course it's only a matter of time before confirmed locally acquired cases occur. It will be interesting to see if at that time there is a mass exodus of all the women if child bearing years who live in Florida; and if the tourism industry will be bankrupt in months as the rest of the world avoids vacations there.