http://www.vox.com/2016/1/15/10777906/cdc-travel-zika-pregnant
Due to the zika virus. Scary stuff. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not travel to: Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
pomelo / 5257 posts
This has seriously been freaking me out, being pregnant in Texas right now. I've been hearing so much about how it's only a matter of time until it's here. Scary.
nectarine / 2466 posts
That's really scary. That article also talked about guillian barre syndrome, and how zika can cause GB. My grandpa was diagnosed with GB years ago, and that's also a very scary illness.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
This is so scary because we are in FL and I'm majorly prone to mosquitos. If it comes here it would be to us first. I hope they find some answers.
pear / 1672 posts
Just posted as well. It's in the Caribbean, too, including Puerto Rico. I was thinking of going to one of the 14 countries that the CDC mentioned in the warning. I may have to think otherwise given some thoughts about our plans in the next few months.
pomegranate / 3779 posts
I read about this yesterday and they said the type of mosquito that carries this is present in the SE US and that it is typically out during the day, so going to be hard to avoid for those of that live on the Gulf coast.
We also travel to Colombia often, so if/when we TTC again, we will definitely have to keep this in mind.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@mrs.shinerbock: Did you see there's been one case around here already, too? Although they didn't contract it in the area, they recently visited El Salvador. It's making me anxious! I know it's not contagious person to person, but I believe if the type of mosquito that can transmit it bites a person who brought it back here from elsewhere, that could be a way for it to spread here. Yikes 
pomegranate / 3779 posts
@MrsSCB: yeah, scary. I hope they come up with a vaccine soon. I'd also like to know what the other hazards are for contracting it. How worried do I need to be about my infant?
grapefruit / 4355 posts
I'm going to 2 different countries in that region in 2016 (Dominican Republic and Boniare). I'm not concerned though. The odds of contracting it are so minuscule.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@mrs.shinerbock: good question, I know they said it produces flu-like symptoms, but I don't know if that might be different for very little ones. Another thing to think about this summer... It doesn't help that a lot of the tropical disease experts being interviewed by the media are in the med center here, so it's basically all I've been hearing about at work for two weeks 
pomegranate / 3658 posts
@mrs.shinerbock: That is my question as well. I'm taking DD to Mexico this spring. Fortunately I won't be pregnant or TTC but still worried bout her, given how rapidly the understanding of the virus' dangers seems to be evolving.
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@PawPrints: Oh wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. Punta Mita was one choice for a babymoon for me, and now its totally off.
pomegranate / 3127 posts
So scary. Makes me think how much we take vaccines for granted sometimes, and how awful it is when there isn't one for something serious.
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
Bumping because this is worrying me. We are going to TTC this May, right after coming back from a trip to Spain. There is not a travel advisory for that country yet but the type of mosquito that carries Zika is in Southern Europe and this article says it's possible the epidemic could spread there: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/travel/spread-of-zika-virus-prompts-travel-advisories.html?_r=0
@MrsSCB: We live in Texas too and especially with how warm it has been this winter, I am freaked out.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Someone else pointed out that part of the reason this is so bad for central/south america is because they do not consistently have a/c, screens on windows, access to bug sprays etc. So while its still a risk for other areas and could spread there, they dont expect it to be an epidemic here.
coconut / 8483 posts
@daniellemybelle: my husband said he read somewhere that it can last in your body for years and effect future pregnancies - but I am not sure where he saw that?! Just FYI!
Fwiw, I've never been bit by a mosquito outside of my area (Canada) whenever I go to a resort it seems like there aren't many? Maybe I'm just not remembering! It is scary to me though.
coconut / 8234 posts
@daniellemybelle: Spain is fine for now. There have never been any Zika evidence there...except for 2 people who recently traveled to South America.
@Mrs. Champagne: I read that the virus will likely spread everywhere in the Americas except for Chile and Canada.
coconut / 8483 posts
@mrsjazz: I saw that too. Glad to live in Canada! Although we do have so many, I guess the hopefully won't have the virus.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@daniellemybelle: I hear you, and the media hysteria doesn't help! Here are some things I've read that have actually made me feel better -- if you get zika and you're not pregnant, you're mildly sick for a week and then scientists believe you may be immune for life. The virus only remains in your blood for a week after becoming sick, so unless you get pregnant during that week, you'll be good to go (this is according to the CDC). Also, the type of mosquito carrying it only flies very short distances, like less than a mile, in its lifetime. The only way the disease would spread in the U.S. is if a mosquito bites someone that brought it back from elsewhere and then bites someone else. But since they don't fly very far, it seems like it could be contained to a relatively small area. Like @T.H.O.U. said it's a much bigger problem in developing/poverty-stricken areas where they don't do much spraying to kill mosquitoes and people don't have door or window screens and spend more time outdoors. Hope something there eases your mind a bit! 
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
@MrsSCB: That is very reassuring! I hope @Mrs. Champagne's husband is incorrect that it can last for a long time in your body!?
@mrsjazz: Good to know!
pomelo / 5257 posts
@daniellemybelle: No, as far as I've seen it only lasts for about seven days in your blood stream, so should not affect future pregnancies. The only real dangers are if you are pregnant when you contract it, or if you are actively TTC (I assume because you may already be pregnant and just not know it). I liked this Q&A -- number three talks about how long it stays in your system: http://www.vox.com/2016/1/29/10867994/cancel-vacation-trip-zika-virus
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@daniellemybelle: Do NOT worry at all. a) If you aren't pregnant already, it's no issue b) it's not currently in spain.
I AM pregnant and AM traveling to Italy in May (instead of the Caribbean/Central America as planned) and am not the least bit concerned. Nor is my OB.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
Saw this thread is popping up again so, in case people are following the research - I read this today. Really concerning.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@PawPrints: Ugh, that is so sad. This is why we need to devote more resources towards treating zika and other neglected tropical diseases from the start, not waiting until they threaten the U.S. and then say, "Well, I guess we better act now!" Makes me mad that it seems to take something like this to start working on vaccines.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
@MrsSCB: Do you think? I was under the impression that until very recently, scientific/medical understanding of zika was that it only caused mild symptoms for a short time.
clementine / 928 posts
@PawPrints: this is terrifying. I'm 3 months and live in TX. Though it's not here yet, they expect it to spread up this way. With how early it gets hot/humid here, it worries me. Those poor babies 
pomelo / 5257 posts
@PawPrints: Well, that is true, but I'm thinking more on a larger scale -- for example zika, dengue fever and chikungunya are all tropical diseases spread by the same type of mosquito. Dengue and chikungunya are more serious illnesses, but they haven't affected the U.S. too much at this point (although there has been a dengue outbreak in Hawaii). If we had already been figuring out measures to deal with this species of mosquito, seeing dengue and chikungunya in other countries, we'd be farther ahead on zika, as well. I'm certainly no expert, this is just some stuff I've been thinking about, and I've also seen researchers suggesting we could all benefit from more efforts being devoted to tropical disease treatment and prevention. Similar to ebola -- thousands of people died in Africa, but efforts didn't really ramp up until it started arriving in the U.S. and Europe.
ETA: Plus even mild illnesses can be not-so-mild for certain vulnerable populations (like small children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems).
eggplant / 11824 posts
@PawPrints: I heard that story on NPR this morning during my commute. So scary how profound the physical and developmental abnormalities can be - even in children not presenting with some of the telling physical symptoms.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
I figured I'd post this update since this was my thread... CDC has issued new guidance (to replace the interim guidance issued earlier) that urges couples to wait after either male or female exposure to zika.
"U.S. health officials are recommending that women wait at least two months, and men at least six, before attempting to conceive after infection with Zika, a virus linked to thousands of suspected cases of birth defects in Brazil."
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-guidelines-idUSKCN0WR1E2
This was on my mind since DH's best friend had to make the tough decision not to attend his sister's wedding in the Caribbean this month, since he and his wife are TTC. I can't imagine how stressful it must be for residents of the affected countries who are wanting to get pregnant.
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