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Original poster

Can you travel on a ferry with a child that has chickenpox?

15 replies

dangirl · 11/07/2007 20:55

Evening ladies,

Going on the ferry to Denmark next Tuesday. DD had seven spots last night (def. chickenpox) - so far no more... (waiting...) also has a DS (age 1) who hasn't had it yet.

Does anyone know the regulations for traveling on the ferry (I know re aeroplane). I tried phoning them today but they seeem rather unsure themselves.

Thank you.

Dangirl

OP posts:
NannyL · 11/07/2007 21:03

hopefully by tuesday they will be scabbing over and she wont be contagouse anymore.

If not contagiouse they cant have a problem... if she is contagouse though, imo it would not be unreasonable for them to not allow her to travel, but dont know their official guidelines

NannyL · 11/07/2007 21:05

hopefully by tuesday they will be scabbing over and she wont be contagouse anymore.

If not contagiouse they cant have a problem... if she is contagouse though, imo it would not be unreasonable for them to not allow her to travel, but dont know their official guidelines

Original poster
dangirl · 11/07/2007 21:14

Thank you NannyL.

My point is though that on a ferry the risk shouldn't be any higher than say at the supermarket. And it isn't illegal to take your child out of the house.
On a plane the air is recirculated and you are in a very small space therefore the risk is higher, this is not he case on the ferry.

Any other views?

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LIZS · 11/07/2007 21:20

I think they could refuse to carry her if they realise. As it is a long crossing would you have a cabin (whcih will have recylcling air ) or seats (where she could come into contact with others)? Technically she may just be out of the most contagious period but you may find others disagree and of course ds may well be a different story if he comes down with it.

NannyL · 11/07/2007 21:24

I agree that the riskis small... and we all take the risk daily of being around contagiouse children who havent yet even developed chicken pox, hence nobody even knows that they are contagiouse!

Original poster
dangirl · 11/07/2007 21:29

We will have a private cabin so no need to come into contact with other passengers really.
Don't want to be naughty just want to be realistic.

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Original poster
dangirl · 12/07/2007 10:32

bump

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expatinengland · 12/07/2007 13:27

How could you even think of taking a child that has chickenpox around others? If you didn't know she had them, that would be different and of course this happens because if you don't know...well then you just don't know.

How about if there are any cancer patients or others who may have weakened immune systems nearby?

How do you get to and from your private cabin? If you were going on your private yacht or in a car ferry and the children weren't getting out of the car, it might be okay, but I think it's ridiculous and selfish to do such a thing.

My BIL recently had a liver transplant and I can't imagine somebody coming around him with a contagious child and doing it on purpose with the full knowledge that their child was contagious.

Sorry to be so blunt, but chickenpox ARE a big deal to other people.

Original poster
dangirl · 12/07/2007 16:31

Oh my goodness.
Didn't expect such a reply
I will be taking her on the ferry 7 days after break out.
Have spoken to GP today. They are only contagious via breathing the first 2-4 days after that it is only if you touch the vesicles and that is of course only if they are not already crusted over.
I would never do anything knowingly irresponsible and potentially harm other people on purpose!!

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MumOfSlytherinsMonsters · 12/07/2007 16:42

i was told by my GP when my 2 had CP that it was contagious from befor ethey appear (i forget how long) until they are scabbed over.

If what you are saying is correct about it being only when you physically touch the spots then my 2 would never had got CP in the first place. And what if one of them literally bursts? can you be sure that they won't "splat" on anyone?

stressedoutmom · 12/07/2007 16:51

Hi there I don't see reason why they wouldn't let you go especially as you have a private cabin.

A friend of mine went to france with her dd last year and the same thing happened although they were going on the train and as has been previoulsy posted the scabs will hopefully have dried over.

Enjoy your hols

LIZS · 12/07/2007 16:57

The virus is airborne so not sure how the spots alone can be infectious

aloha · 12/07/2007 17:00

She didn't say that - she said the virus is airborne and contagious before the spots appear and for a short period afterwards, and only then transmitted via the fluid in the spots.

aloha · 12/07/2007 17:03

HPA says most infectious a couple of days before teh spots appear, then still contagious until spots crust over, but that's usually only about 5-6days after they emerge.

Original poster
dangirl · 12/07/2007 18:36

Aloha,
Thank you. Yes that is what I said.
Hopefully this won't be an issue at all by next week.

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