Pregnant in SE Asia...

[meganwatts89]

Hi, I really need some advice! And would love to hear other people's experiences with this situation. I am currently on a 3 month trip through SE Asia, I'm 1 month in and have just discovered that I am pregnant (4 weeks) this was totally unexpected and I don't know what to do. I'm scared of Zika... should I go home or is it safe enough to continue with the remaining 2 months of our trip? What are people's thoughts/opinions/experiences?

Thankyou!

Congrats OP

However my advice with how serious Zika is I would personally seek a medical professionals advice and make an informed decision from there. But then the irrational side of me would high tail it out of there.

If the plan is to travel in rural areas then I think I'd seek medical advice (and a note to back up what they said in case you can claim anything on insurance). They are very likely to say that you should cut the trip short. Meanwhile, lots of Deet spray and mosquito nets while sleeping.

I'd be asking advice from people on the ground there. Get yourself to a good clinic and have a chat to someone who specialises in tropical diseases. You might find the impression given by Western health authorities is a little different to the reality on the ground.

I'm a pregnant expat in SE Asia and zika has never been mentioned, by my OB or anywhere else for that matter! It just doesn't seem to be a concern, despite it deemed at Category 2 zone with only a handful of confirmed cases. There was also talk that the Asian strain of zika was different to that in Latin America, which is why the numbers of babies born with microcephaly were dramatically different. It seemed a common theory but I couldn't find anything reputable to back it up. Having looked into it we decided the risk was not particularly high, though obviously that is completely a personal decision and not everyone would be comfortable with making that decision.

Fogging is quite common in urban areas as the particular type of mosquito that carries dengue fever, the main concern where I am, and zika prefer urban environments. Who knew?!?
Keeping yourself covered and a good repellent is recommended but I've hardly seen a mosquito and it's the wet season. We've also not traveled to rural areas, not because of zika but because I was pregnant before arriving here and I was unable to vaccinated for other tropical diseases. Each country might have their own recommendations based on how many confirmed cases they've had too.

Good luck with your decision! It's hard one isn't it? Because the risks of contracting it are so low but the risk is there and there would be no comfort in that if something was to go wrong. Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!