Zika Virus - Canary Islands??

[Babylon12]

Hi
Does anyone know if the Canary Islands are a risk for Zika Virus either now or in the near future? We have a holiday booked in April and I will be roughly 15 weeks pregnant at the time. I wouldn't want to cancel the holiday unnecessarily but if there is a risk I will postpone until after the baby is born. TIA

[NotSpeaking]

Why don't you find an official website about. As much as I love mumsnet, I'd rather take official advice rather than here.

[Babylon12]

I've tried having a look but nothing mentions the Canary Islands at the moment, so I wasn't sure if there might be someone more 'in the know' about this.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Nowhere mentions the Canary Islands because the zika virus isn't there

[ppandj]

Sorry I have no advice or help but just interested in this thread!

[Babylon12]

I've just did a little more research and found this website so looks promising that Zika won't make it to the canaries
www.gran-canaria-info.com/guide/the-canary-islands-a-disease-free-destination-despite-the-heat

[nehagarg]

Nope ..Canary islands isnt on the concerned list.

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

Not sure where you are planning to go but I was on La Palma in the canaries 2 weeks ago at 22 weeks pregnant with absolutely no problems. In fact our guide told us that there aren't mosquitoes on the island because there is no stagnant water and they get everything from under the volcanic rock.

[NotSpeaking]

Just be really careful. It's a worrying time and it is spreading X

[Costacoffeeplease]

It's not spreading to the canaries though

[Frazzled2207]

By "spreading" people mean people have tested positive for it
In uk, spain etc. having contracted it in south america. It won't spread further easily as europe doesn't have the right mosquitoes. Just don't have sex with anyone that's been to south america recently.

[Babylon12]

I think I will still take mosquito repellant etc and cover up just to be on safe side, but I think it's pretty low risk. Thanks for the feedback

[Frazzled2207]

Zika virus or not I think insect repellant is always a good idea!

[JmcK217]

I was just looking into this as well. It looks like The Canaries are safe for now, but that the problem might be if someone who is infected (from elsewhere) gets bitten while in The Canaries. That will spread the virus to the mosquito which will then spread it to other people when it bites them.

However, I still don't understand yet how likely this will be, as it appears that a certain type of mosquito (Aedes species mosquito) is responsible and I don't know if other mosquitoes can carry the virus.


www.spainbuddy.com/is-the-zika-virus-in-the-canaries/

"In the Canaries there is no evidence that the platform exists for the transmission of the Zika virus because although that strain of mosquito is not there, the virus has not been detected despite the regular links with affected countries. Therefore, they state that there is currently no risk of introduction or indigenous transmission of the disease, although introduction of the virus by someone who acquired the disease in any of the countries affected by the outbreak is possible."


www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/index.html

"Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites."

[Costacoffeeplease]

The mosquitos who carry the virus are indigenous to tropical climates, and can't survive colder European temperatures