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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about going on holiday pregnant to somewhere with the Zika mosquitos but no Zika?

39 replies

Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 10:19

Less AIBU, more AIB-overreacting.

I'm 23 weeks pregnant. I've been quite anxious for a number of reasons.

Due to go to Madeira in a couple of weeks. Didn't even think to check about Zika before I booked it, I've now checked and the WHO said in 2022 that Madeira has the Aedes mosquito that carries Zika and they expect cases there in the future. There haven't actually been any Zika cases reported there so far.

I ALWAYS get bitten if there are mosquitos around. I understand it's a low low risk, I would have to get bitten and the mosquito have Zika and then infect me and then the baby be affected which is quite a chain of things to happen.

But obviously there is a risk and I would never forgive myself if the baby was impacted just for a holiday.

Any wise words of advice? Would you go?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Accoooooo · 06/03/2025 08:37

mrstobe123 · 05/03/2025 15:02

@Accoooooo Thanks for replying! Assuming everything went well with your pregnancy and the bite wasn't anything serious?

As far as can all be seen at this point!

OP posts:
mrstobe123 · 05/03/2025 15:02

@Accoooooo Thanks for replying! Assuming everything went well with your pregnancy and the bite wasn't anything serious?

Excited101 · 28/02/2025 11:58

Zika mozzies are daytime not evening… just fyi!

Original poster
Accoooooo · 27/02/2025 08:08

I decided on balance as there wasn't an outbreak (just the mosquitos present) and that would make the chance of being bitten by one that was infected very small.

OP posts:
Original poster
Accoooooo · 27/02/2025 08:06

mrstobe123 · 26/02/2025 09:47

@Accoooooo I know this is an old thread but did you end up going on holiday? Just found out I'm pregnant and am travelling to Turkey in May which says no Zika cases reported but mosquitoes are present and have started panicking!

I went. Got bitten once. I was vigilant with spray etc, not sitting outside at dusk.

Incognito is a great spray that seemed to work well.

OP posts:
HagsRule · 26/02/2025 09:51

Yeah op, there was a chance that I'd be pregnant when we went on our honeymoon (I wasn't in the end but we had started trying just before the wedding as we were both mid 30s and didn't want to leave it too late) and I made sure we checked all the Zika outbreaks and where they were so as to avoid. If you always get bitten I'd say be careful and see if you can go somewhere it's not a risk.

mrstobe123 · 26/02/2025 09:47

@Accoooooo I know this is an old thread but did you end up going on holiday? Just found out I'm pregnant and am travelling to Turkey in May which says no Zika cases reported but mosquitoes are present and have started panicking!

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 09/04/2024 16:21

I think the risk is currently zero so I'd go

Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 17:24

Sunnnybunny72 · 08/04/2024 16:41

NaTHNaC is the nurses' bible so if there's no mention of Zia for Madeira (there isn't) then you're fine.

Thank you - that is v helpful as I hadn't come across this website before and didn't know how official it was!

OP posts:
Sunnnybunny72 · 08/04/2024 16:41

NaTHNaC is the nurses' bible so if there's no mention of Zia for Madeira (there isn't) then you're fine.

Excited101 · 08/04/2024 15:39

I went to St Lucia a couple of months ago, pregnant. But the last case of Zika they had there was 2017. We wore high strength repellent 24/7, washed body and hair in repellant stuff and used suncream with it in. I also covered up a lot. It would have cost us thousands to cancel so we took the risk based on a lot of reading and research on it. We haven’t had sex since, yet (it can be in sperm for 3 months) and we don’t seem to have had any effects. I wouldn’t do it again but that’s the decision we made this time.

saraclara · 08/04/2024 15:33

Go. The risk is minute of it even exists.

The advice you're getting from most people here is not informed, but more of a hair trigger response in seeing the word Zika.

As others have pointed out, the same mosquitos exist here and in France, so I'm guessing in most European countries where the disease that they can be a vector for does not exist. Also it's not mosquito season.

Then there are the UK government linked advice pages which don't have any mention of Zika risk for Madeira

The government travel health website is normally very over cautious. So if they don't mention a risk in Madeira, then it basically isn't there.

KrisAkabusi · 08/04/2024 15:28

Sprinkles211 · 08/04/2024 10:23

Yes sorry I also wouldn't go away anywhere that could present a risk to my unborn

Then you won't drive to the airport, get on a plane, etc. Everything has a risk, you need to be able to evaluate it.

mitogoshi · 08/04/2024 15:14

Zika is more dangerous in early pregnancy and those who are in the zones throughout pregnancy. I personally think the risk is low but do take preventative measures like safe bug spray

PilgorTheGoat · 08/04/2024 12:29

I’d go but I was pregnant in 2017 and living in SE Asia where cases were abundant. In a country where the just have the right species of mosquito but no cases I wouldn’t worry.

Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 12:28

Sunnnybunny72 · 08/04/2024 12:26

Just Google. Look at NaTHNaC for advice for where you're travelling. That's all the nurse will do.

Show quote history

That’s useful - thank you. I have looked on there, no mention of Zika at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 12:28

Letsnotargue · 08/04/2024 12:09

We have Aedes mosquitos in the U.K. - they are everywhere. They also carry yellow fever and dengue fever if they are in parts of the world where this is a problem. They can only transmit a disease by picking it up in the blood of an infected host and taking it to another host, who then develops the disease.

If there are no people in Madeira with Zika then the mosquitos won’t be able to transmit it. They might bite you, but they won’t pass on the disease. You’re not worried about getting yellow fever or dengue fever in Madeira, or the U.K. for that matter, so you’ll be fine.

Having said that, if you won’t feel comfortable then there might not be any point in going if you’ll be stressed all the time. You can take precautions by
covering up in the evenings and using mosquito repellent.

Thank you, I totally understand this as the facts.

But then other people’s reactions make me wonder if I’m underestimating the risk!

To be honest I just want someone to tell me what to do.

OP posts:
Sunnnybunny72 · 08/04/2024 12:26

Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 11:59

I can’t find any sort of travel clinic that doesn’t seem to be just a regular pharmacy that does vaccinations, so I think I will try my GP.

Just Google. Look at NaTHNaC for advice for where you're travelling. That's all the nurse will do.

Letsnotargue · 08/04/2024 12:09

We have Aedes mosquitos in the U.K. - they are everywhere. They also carry yellow fever and dengue fever if they are in parts of the world where this is a problem. They can only transmit a disease by picking it up in the blood of an infected host and taking it to another host, who then develops the disease.

If there are no people in Madeira with Zika then the mosquitos won’t be able to transmit it. They might bite you, but they won’t pass on the disease. You’re not worried about getting yellow fever or dengue fever in Madeira, or the U.K. for that matter, so you’ll be fine.

Having said that, if you won’t feel comfortable then there might not be any point in going if you’ll be stressed all the time. You can take precautions by
covering up in the evenings and using mosquito repellent.

ChedderGorgeous · 08/04/2024 12:02

Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 11:59

That does help with understanding the level of risk, thank you.

Show quote history

I'm sorry I just wouldn't go with this knowledge. Worth paying to transfer flights and accommodation. If you can't transfer accommodation- cancel and take the hit. Just not worth the risk.

Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 11:59

I can’t find any sort of travel clinic that doesn’t seem to be just a regular pharmacy that does vaccinations, so I think I will try my GP.

OP posts:
Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 11:59

hazeydays14 · 08/04/2024 10:49

If you have visited Madeira you are unable to donate blood for 4 weeks due to risk of tropical disease including Zika and this does not apply to the rest of the country so there seems to be enough of a risk associated with Madeira specifically for the BTS to exclude. Not sure if that is helpful info or not but it seems the risk is low but still potentially there.
I’m certainly no expert on this though!

That does help with understanding the level of risk, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Accoooooo · 08/04/2024 10:53

CJ0374 · 08/04/2024 10:44

The information online is so woolly.
Hence I suggested going to a travel clinic for up to date, medical advice. They will do a risk assessment on you and give you the stats.

Thank you, I've never needed to visit a travel clinic before so didn't know they would give this kind of information.

OP posts:
hazeydays14 · 08/04/2024 10:49

If you have visited Madeira you are unable to donate blood for 4 weeks due to risk of tropical disease including Zika and this does not apply to the rest of the country so there seems to be enough of a risk associated with Madeira specifically for the BTS to exclude. Not sure if that is helpful info or not but it seems the risk is low but still potentially there.
I’m certainly no expert on this though!

CJ0374 · 08/04/2024 10:44

The information online is so woolly.
Hence I suggested going to a travel clinic for up to date, medical advice. They will do a risk assessment on you and give you the stats.

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