Zika virus

I have friends planning a fall charter. They wanted to head to the BVI but have dropped it off the list due to the travel warning for couples where pregnancy might be possible. I know the CDC says no travel to the Virgin Islands in that situation but wondered if there have been any confirmed cases in the BVI. Can't find any looking online.
G

George--Sorry, why would someone in that situation want to take the risk?

Whether it is true or not the C&I people seem to think the BVI id Zika free. Several people have reported that C&I at EIS has been announcing to arrivals that the BVI does not have Zika and visitors should use repellants to keep it that way.

I understand there have been none. Seems like the risk is about 0.

I could walk out my back door in Western Maine, snap off a few emerging asparagus spears, and be a Lyme disease patient. The ticks that transmit that disease at this time of year are smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. As I don't particularly want to be picking asparagus with my hands covered in pesticide, I'll take the chance.

Mosquitos who transmit Zika are daytime mosquitos, they are far easier to see than tick nymphs and far easier to repel or discourage.

Certainly I'm way past the age of being concerned about childbearing, but I was never much concerned about Dengue Fever in the islands, either. Transmitted by the same mosquito species, but daytime sailing keeps one out of the reach of those critters.

Caution is one thing, fear is another. Everyone gets to decide what risks to take.

Dengue is one thing, microcephaly is totally another. You are talking about taking a chance with an unborn child. Really??

Carol, looks like they had already decided.

It seems like the point of the post was to have them reconsider. The mosquitoes who carry Zika are there, that is certain. What is also certain is that the virus has been confirmed in almost every island in the Caribbean. It is only a matter of time before there is a confirmed case in the BVI. Tourism officials have a vested interest in making people believe there is no risk. Personally, I am a mosquito magnet and, while I think about it some, there is no way that I would not go to the Caribbean because of fear of dengue, chick-v or Zika, as there is no chance I could become pregnant. However, there is just a real, quantum leap between me exposing myself to a very uncomfortable disease and exposing an unborn child to such horrors as microcephaly.

I got the impression the point of the OP was out of curiosity for himself.

Actually they would like to go to the BVI and asked my opinion. They ruled it out initially but could change. They were going to the Bahamas as the alternative. They are at the boat booking stage.
G

USVI has 16 confirmed cases as of April 26. More details and developments at:

http://www.healthvi.org/topics/az/z/zika.html

Travelers need to review the facts and make their own decisions. I've been briefing our guests on Zika risks since middle of 2015. We also brief Dengue, Chikungunya, Hepatitis and HIV.

Personally, I worry about Hepatitis the most. Chikungunya has had the biggest impact on friends.

Cheers, RickG

There are still questions whether the Zika virus causes birth defects, or whether exposure to the insecticides used copiously in the tropics against mosquitos causes the damage. Jury is not out yet on that. Hence, the CDC caution because they really do not KNOW.

OTOH, I have a good friend right here who at 38 years old has a PIC line and receives IV antibiotics 4 times per week because of longstanding Lyme Disease. Her brain MRI shows a 20% shrinkage of her frontal lobe since her initial diagnosis, which came after 3 years of testing, which was 4 years ago. Her latest lumbar puncture was positive for Lyme spirochetes. There is no question that her brain is shrinking because of the infection. Her insurance company has 3 times ended her treatments until there was another standard of proof met through further testing.

Her dog was diagnosed in the vets office in 10 minutes, and cured in 3 weeks, 3 years before she received her diagnosis.

Risks are risks. Taking risks is on everyone's own judgment. Some you can choose, others are simply the cards you are dealt in life.

Really, Carol. I never encouraged anyone to go to the Islands. Save your disdain.

[quote]Breeze said:
There are still questions whether the Zika virus causes birth defects, or whether exposure to the insecticides used copiously in the tropics against mosquitos causes the damage. Jury is not out yet on that.

Maybe that jury is still busy trying to decide if there is such a crazy idea like global climate change???

George, I have done a LOT of reading and investigating into the Zika virus ... and here's my biggest concern:

Men and those women who are not of child-bearing age, tend not to worry too much about getting the virus. I spoke to a few of my friends (over 60) who basically poo-pooed the notion of it even being a concern for them.

My point was that for the most part, the symptoms of Zika are often no worse than any of the other mosquito-borne diseases ... BUT ... [color:"red"]IF[/color] the suspicions regarding microcephaly are proven accurate, then the cavalier attitude of my friends becomes a major problem. If they get the virus, they then become carriers. It only takes ONE mosquito to bit them and then bite the wrong woman to [color:"red"]potentially[/color] and irrevocably harm her unborn baby.

Mosquitos don't generally bother me too much, but I nevertheless wear Deet when I know I am going to be in any area that mosquitos are present. More for the safety of others than for myself. I have had 4 of the 5 Denghy strains already and Chikungunya hasn't been an issue for a while now.

For the same reason, I make sue there is no standing water around my place and if I see open containers holding stagnant water around any public places, I always dump it out.

Breeze is right, there is no "definitive" proof that a bi-product of Zika is Microcephaly, but a very large number of health professionals seem to think it is likely. One man in Puerto Rico died from complications of Zika with another existing health problem and the US has no proven that it can also be transmitted sexually.

My preference is always to err on the side of caution. If someone in my family were planning to become pregnant ... and regardless of how badly I might want to see them, I would advise them to wait until after the baby is born to visit the BVI.

I will probably be slagged off for voicing my opinion, but I'd like to remind all that it is just that, my opinion. Nothing more.

I should also state with absolute certainty that I do not believe for one minute the government would hide any findings of Zika virus within the BVI. I follow this particular subject very, very closely. If there is even a hint of it in the air, I will know about it.

Having said that, I truly believe we should assume there are infected mosquitos here. There just haven't been any [color:"red"]confirmed[/color] cases.

How would anyone visit the BVI without traveling through a Zika area? Anyone who has the possibility of becoming pregnant anywhere zika or no zika should have aggressive prenatal care. That always includes caution with travel, diet, and limiting or eliminating all kinds of exposure. When it comes to Zika the massive travel in and out of Rio for the Olympics are really creating a mess. The same with hepatitis. If you are pregnant this year airports of any kind may not be a good idea.

Here are the current words on the subject from the CDC...

Zika Virus in Pregnancy

A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. CDC recommends special precautions for the following groups:

Women who are pregnant:

Should not travel to US Virgin Islands.

If you must travel, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.

If you have a male partner who lives in or has traveled to US Virgin Islands, either use condoms or do not have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) during your pregnancy.


Women who are trying to become pregnant:
Before you or your male partner travel, talk to your doctor about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection.

See CDC guidance for how long you should wait to get pregnant after travel to US Virgin Islands.

You and your male partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.

Men who have traveled to an area with Zika and have a pregnant partner should use condoms or not have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) during the pregnancy.

Ok, the towel has been tossed in! They are going to the Bahamas. Zika might be there by the fall. Does travel insurance cover a Zika cancel?
G

I have an employee who was scheduled to travel with his wife to the Galapogos via Ecuador. Happy news of pregnancy after travel was booked. Ecuador has reported cases of Zika, but Galapogos does not. With a bit of pushing, their airline was refunded their full itinerary. No travel insurance claim required for the airline. Their lodging had a waiting list, so they had a small rebooking fee. Out of pocket was less than travel insurance would have been. They are going to Seattle instead to avoid mosquitoes.

Cheers, RickG

Yes if you pay for the all inclusive "cancel for any reason" policies.

While the harm to a developing fetus has gotten all the news, many are unaware that there have been a few cases of adults developing a Guillian-Barre syndrome in response to Zika. The concern is apparently greatest for older adults who may have compromised immune systems.

I am not too concerned with contracting the Zika Virus when I visit the BVI in a month. I fly a Mosquito Control Helicopter somewhere in Florida so I'm up-to-date on the Zika virus as well as how mosquito's breed and what carries what virus. I just was out spraying several ditches today to kill the larvae that turns into mosquitoes.

The Zika virus right now is thought to be spread by a mosquito that bites during the day, though there are rumors that it is also spread by the Culex species. The Aedes Aegypti that is thought to spread it is a container breeder and does not travel far from where it breeds.

I will make sure that we spray ourselves before we go out and try not to put ourselves in areas that I can see that will breed. Clothes and deet will help when we go ashore.