Just read an article that the Zika problem in Puerto Rico is out of control. They expect 20% of the entire population to get Zika, with thousands of Ziba babies. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Holy cow!
Do you have a reference? I'd like to read more.

I too would like to see scientific data. CDC?

Google....you'd be amazed how simple it is. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots...uitoes-flourish

The Zika bearing mosquitoes do not travel. The entire area of risk in Miami is less than one square mile. The real areas of risk are dense urban areas where those form of mosquitoes can survive. Here is what the real authorities in our government have to say on the subject.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/british-virgin-islands

If you are worried about Zika try to stay out of the urban tropical cities.

My sister from Colorado spent a few weeks in BVI earlier this year. Got home and was diagnosed with Zika. I supposed there is a chance she got it in STT getting on the ferry? Anyway my bet is that it has moved on from Puerto Rico.

There have been several cases reported in many or most islands in the Caribbean. It is definitely not limited to Puerto Rico..

There have been quite a few cases in the BVI. They are very averse to testing for it here though (as then they will have to admit it exists) so most people have gone to USVI from here for diagnosis, and, I guess are then added to the USVI stats.

The problem isn't the zika mosquitos traveling, its someone who is infected traveling and then spreading it to other mosquitos.

Of the 5,000 to 7,000 BVI new visitors each week any idea what percentage of that group is laying over at SJU? How many of us are coating with DEET before we leave the house?

Precisely..every day undoubtedly thousands of people are returning from

areas where Zika is endemic. Given the the types of Mosquitos that serve as vectors for ZIka are widely present over much of the U.S. and the virus can be spread by sexual contact..it is the mobility of the people not the range of the mosquito that is the problem.
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/vector/range.html

I recall hearing about West Nile Virus a few years ago. I assumed it would be like Eastern and Western encephalitis, not very wide spread and more of a novelty in both horses and people. I was wrong. It was devastating in this area to a large population of horses and several human fatalities.
I would wager that if testing is done on a widespread basis where the Mosquitos are found, there will be many pockets of infection of Zika over the next couple years.

I suspect Zika will be much like crime against tourists in the BVI. No official report then there is no problem!
G

I checked that one off my list.

Curious how media plays situations & people.
Dengue, Chickungunya and Zika - are all transmitted by the same mosquito. (and for the scientific amongst us.. (statistically fact - 99.5% of the time- the remaining 1/2% undeterminable variable)
Couple yrs ago - dengue was the stay-home "plague"
Last yr or so.. it was Chikungunya
This yr - Zika
Except for child-bearing moments... this just doesn't seem to be any other than a nuisance.
I'd think that Dengue would be a far, far more threatening situation - but, that has been somehow forgotten.. even though it remains as prevalent as ever
All the same mosquito... the same one that does not fly more than 50 yards from where it hatched
But - panic - of course, travels further
Now... if I were hoping for/expecting a new family member, I may hesitate.. but for the rest of us?
Enjoy the islands.....

and.. yeah, curious how Tortola has no cases
But.. that's another story

The problem is that while many of us may not have to worry about Zika if we're not going to get pregnant, if we do get it on vacation and come home, we're now potentially spreading it to mosquitos at home and now people who may not have been at risk can be at risk.

Seems maybe a ban on muslims wouldn't save as many people as a 14 day ban on anyone who's tested positive for Zika would.. (Don't want to start a political argument.. just this was the first thing that came to mind and a reasonable way to stop the spread)

ahhh... little time in this short life for politics... although, lately, seems quite entertaining

Zika - carried by aedes aegyptis..."solely"
Not your everyday, common N.American variety
Subject to someone stating facts showing otherwise.. this species will not be found north of the very southern states

You being from MA - have a higher concern with guns, knives and domestic violence - than transmission from a Zika carrying traveller

So-if you visit the islands
and - if you become infected
you go home, and spread it to whom ?????
No mosquito species north can spread it, nor carry it

Drama is dangerous

So the mosquitos in MA simply aren't capable of carrying it? I hadn't heard that mentioned at all before.

Because it's not true Matt..see the link in my post above. aedes albapictus carries the same class of viruses including ZIka. If you google it you will find its world wide most rapidly increasing species and is prevalent thru a large and expanding area of North America.

The only difference in the two sp is that albopictus likes animals as well as people.

Here is one map from the CDC where they combine most of their US data and risk briefings.

Here is one from the CDC, dated Aug 3/16
Discusses actual versus "approximate-potential"

Showing ZERO locally acquired cases in the mainland USA outside of Florida
Seems all cases have been travel related

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/intheus/maps-zika-us.html