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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to not go on holiday due to pregnancy and Zika virus

167 replies

PinkyOfPie · 17/05/2016 08:38

Due to go to Spain on a large family holiday in July for 10 days. I'll be around 4 months pregnant.

According to WHO there have been no Zika virus outbreaks in Europe yet, but according to various sources it is expected in the summer once "mosquito season" starts. Mosquitoes flock to me like a magnet usually, I must have tasty blood, and I'm nervous about going. I would send DH and 3yo DD on their own and stay here, but it would break my heart to do so (what on earth would I actually do for 10 days?!). On the other hand, it's a bit of a risk to take for Bump.

My mum said she'd come up for 10 days and keep me company and have trips away in UK etc, but it's not the same as being with my DH and DD.

AIBU and hysterical to consider staying at home?

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 18/05/2016 18:52

But if you stay in England you might get bitten by a wild dog and contract rabies... It's not in the uk but, you know, why take the risk?

I think unless you can name the credible sources and they are credible then not going would be an over reaction

mangocoveredlamb · 18/05/2016 18:53

It's such a difficult decision.
We are due to go to France (southern right on the Spanish border) and Mallorca for three weeks. It's booked and paid for, non-refundable and with lots of other people. It's my dad's house first and then elsewhere with the rest of my large family. So if I cancel others will loose out.
I wish there was some way of finding out a) the risk of being bitten by the right type of mosquito b) the risk of that mosquito transmitting zika and c) the risk of having zika effecting the baby.

FriskyFrog · 18/05/2016 19:21

Considering it's the WHO warning that Zika could spread to Europe this summer, I would personally be very concerned if pregnant.

I recognise the probability of contractng the virus would be very very small, but the consequences if it was caught would be devastating.

Would I still go on the booked holiday? I really, really don't know if I would still go or not.

Best of luck deciding OP, it's a tricky one.

Perhaps you can just monitor the situation up till the day before you depart and decide then? If there are no reports thus far, then perhaps go? Or perhaps worry that it's one of those things that won't really get reported until after the babies with microencephaly are born.... Of course too late for you to make an informed decision.....Confused

Rocket1982 · 18/05/2016 20:23

I have a conference in Spain this summer when I will be about 28 weeks. I was worried when I saw the WHO report. At the moment, I think I will still go if there are no reports of mosquito borne cases when it is time to go.

Andbabymakesthree · 18/05/2016 20:26

Can you catch it from food imported?!

Hulababy · 18/05/2016 20:30

I doubt travel insurance would pay out for a cancelled holiday in this case, as the Uk are not currently advising travelling to these countries.

mummymeister · 18/05/2016 20:36

its mosquito born andbabymakesthree the mosquitos that carry it are a very specific type. it isn't a food or water borne disease.

the problem is that it is almost impossible not to be bitten. you can wear all your floaty clothes and cover up and spray yourself from head to toe in deet 100% but somehow the little things still end up biting you. we went to Belize for a jungle trip. I smothered myself in 100% deet. I wore long cotton trousers with elasticated bottoms, shoes and socks plus long sleeve top and hat. not only did I spray myself but I sprayed my clothes. unbelievably I got bitten where the arm of my sunglasses goes between my eyes and my hair - probably 9 or 10 times.

I think the best thing to do is to watch and wait but to also be aware that it might happen. if you cancel now without the health warning being in place then you wont necessarily get your money back. you should do if they say that there are confirmed cases.

I am naturally cautious, I had a child with a serious health problem, so to be honest I would just be sticking to non mozzie Britain. dull and boring I know. not guaranteed sunshine but having a child with microcephaly would be awful and I would be blaming myself.

leotwist · 18/05/2016 20:43

I'd avoid Spain this summer, esp with the news today about the risks in southern European countries increasing. Not worth the risk and it's only one holiday, after all. I'm avoiding the USA myself, for the same reason.

Bovnydazzlers · 18/05/2016 20:44

Surely they will be testing mozzies all the time, therefore they will be able to say as soon (if) Zika reaches Spain. Therefore without an announcement, I'd say it's totally fine to go.

And if you sent DH, does that mean that you wouldn't be able to have sex with him for months in case he transmits it to you? (I may well have got the science wrong on that one?)

mangocoveredlamb · 18/05/2016 20:45

I don't feel there is enough information yet to make a really informed decision.
Are the tiger mosquitos present where I will be going?
Are there confirmed cases of the Tiger mosquito carrying and transmitting Zika?
Are there confirmed mosquito transmissions in the area I am visiting?

In the meantime I would like more information on what Moderate risk means. Does anyone know where I can find this?

2ManySweets · 18/05/2016 20:47

Would you be able to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy as normal if you went? Or would you be terrified for the remaining 20-odd weeks that your child would be born with microcephaly?

If the answer is the latter, don't go.

You know, I know, we all know your chances of getting it are minuscule to non-existent but if you'll screw your mind up for weeks to come then don't go x

mummymeister · 18/05/2016 20:48

There are an awful lot of "don't knows" with this virus as the research has only just really ramped up. I think its a case of just keeping up with the science.

as someone upthread said, even if they are testing the mozzies there will still be a point where there are mozzies that have it and it hasn't been detected. it might only be a couple of days but if you are out there and its announced the worry would be horrible. I am going to post this on the holiday thread so that people there follow it.

nicmel · 18/05/2016 20:48

Good to read the messages on here. I'd just booked a trip to Croatia with my other half and then heard the news today about the possible spread of zika to Europe... Thought I was being over cautious by not wanting to go anymore, but reading this thread has really helped. As Zaurak pointed out, it's not just about low possibility but also severity if the worst does happen. Will just have to do a little staycation instead! :)

specialsubject · 18/05/2016 20:51

the aedes mosquito bites in the daytime.
It is only found on the Black Sea coast and on Maderia.
another vector mosquito may carry it and there is a possibility tourists returning infected will put it into the mosquitos.
tiger balm, marmite, vitamin B etc etc are not repellents. Lotions containing DEET are repellents.
the virus is transmitted via body fluids, usually via mosquito. Not in food or air.

you cannot get a definition of risk.

what would I do if pregnant? Go to Europe excluding Madeira and Black Sea. Not go anywhere tropical - not just zika but dengue and others too.

you won't get any insurance refund.

Zaurak · 18/05/2016 20:51

No, and baby makes three not by food.

It's carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. To be infected you need to be bitten by an infected mosquito.

That specific type isn't found in Europe (yet!) so all the infections so far have been people bitten abroad.

The problem is that there are very similar mosquitos in Europe and it's possible they can carry it too. While there's only a few infected people in a country this isn't an issue. But what happens say if several thousand people come back from the Olympics in Rio with infection? Then the chances of mosquitos biting them and the disease becoming established become much higher.

In Africa, Zika is usually a mild childhood disease. A bit like rubella I suppose. Except there's no vaccine. Most people have it and are immune to it by the end of childhood, so there are few infections in women of childbearing age.
However, what's happened in s America is the mosquitos are present, the disease has arrived, gotten into the local mozzies and because no one has ever encountered it before it's just ripped through the population. ( it's possible it's mutated too to become more virulent) but mainly, no one in s America had it as a child so women of childbearing age are getting it.
When ( not if) the same thing happens in Europe it will spread rapidly here too.

A vaccine is being created but these things take time. 2-3 years is about the fastest they can do it

Zaurak · 18/05/2016 20:58

The vaccine research is benefiting greatly from the recent dengue vaccine ( my dh worked on the trial!)

It'll still be a year or so away. there have been calls by epidemiologists to cancel the Rio olympics but the WHO are not backing them. I guess they don't want to be political but the Rio olympics will accelerate the spread of this virus globally.
What's an unknown is how the virus would spread in native/ invasive European species

We will see more and more cases like this, where previously tropical diseases move into Europe, as the world warms. Don't forget it was only a few hundred years ago that malaria was rampant in The fens in the uk. We find new viruses all the time and as we encroach on previously untouched habitats we encounter some real nasties.

Google hendra, or nipah virus if you fancy a read. Emerging plagues are a bit of a hobby of mine 😬

Afreshstartplease · 18/05/2016 21:07

Can anyone recommend a mosquito spray safe for pregnancy? Travelling to Spain in two weeks!

Afreshstartplease · 18/05/2016 21:08

And what's this about marmite?

scoobyloobyloo · 18/05/2016 21:41

Ive had 5 months of worry after getting bitten in Barbados at 14 wks pregnant the day before they announced it was in the country. I had symptoms the following week but this could have been due to the drugs I was on to support the ivf pregnancy.

I've had regular scans for head circumference, one major scare and only now at 33 weeks do I feel ok about it.

It is totally, 100% not worth the worry. If I could go back In time I would never have gone, the concern has been horrendous.

DocMcFanjo · 18/05/2016 21:43

Yes the marmite advice has me intrigued too! I love marmite so this would be a delightful form of mosquito repellent for me.

DocMcFanjo · 18/05/2016 21:44

Flowers for you scooby. What a horrible worry. Wishing you all the best.

Oly5 · 18/05/2016 21:52

Don't go. I'm a scientist too and it's not worth it. WHO have put out the warning because the risk is very real. It's not there yet but they think there is a moderate risk in many holiday destinations. We won't know if Zika is in a country until it is reasonably well established and it's just not worth the risk if you're pregnant.
The consequences would be horrific.
Don't go

2ManySweets · 18/05/2016 22:02

Oh Scooby, you poor thing Flowers

Shopgirl1 · 18/05/2016 22:17

I wouldn't go...even if the chance was 0.0001% that's too high considering what the outcome would be.

Redinthefacegirl · 18/05/2016 22:33

This is so worrying! I'm in the same boat. Spain trip planned for July when I'll be 22 weeks pregnant. I'm a complete mosquito magnet too.
The trip is with my whole immediate family, all 21 of us. I really really enjoy spending time with everyone and I think I'm going to have to do some serious research and soul searching. If there really is a risk to my baby I'll stay home, but with great sadness at missing out on a rare opportunity to spend a whole week with people I love.
I hope we all make the right decisions for us and have healthy pregnancys.

Thank you to those of you with science backgrounds who are sharing knowledge.