Phuket Zika risk during pregnancy

[Goramm]

My partner and I tried very hard to get pregnant and after a difficult miscarriage and several failed attempts we just found out I am 4 weeks pregnant (5 in a few days). The problem with this is that my brother in law is getting married in 4 weeks in Thailand, Phuket and I am so worried to contract Zika which is known to cause birth defects. I guess I am looking for anyone having had a similar experience or perhaps just someone happy to offer their point of view on whether I should even consider flying over there (we planned to go there for 2 weeks). We already have one child, she's 2.5 years old. According to Google reviews the hotel we mean to stay in has lots of mosquitos. The nearest and most recent Zika beach resort outbreak is 700km away in January 2024. There is one recorded case of a tourist having contracted Zika in Phuket (that I could find). I'm so confused 🙈. Thanks x

It doesn’t sound like the risk is that bad but ensure you protect yourself well from insect. You need to get insect repellent that is suitable in pregnancy as lots aren’t. Wear lots and cover up more than usual.

Personally I wouldn't risk going.

Same, not necessarily because there's a huge risk but you'll be on edge the whole time. I'd sit this one out at home. Hope this pregnancy goes well 💐

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-east/thailand#OtherHealthRisks

NHS website says non-essential travel to Thailand should be postponed while pregnant OP. I wouldn't risk it and ad the advice is not to go I assume you could claim on your travel insurance?

Agree with pp, even if you go you'll be on edge the whole time.
Talk to your brother and show him the guidance and bow out gracefully while making plans to celebrate with him later.
Maybe someone could video stream the wedding if internet is good enough so you can 'be there" in a way.
I hope your brother understands, good luck.

Risk = type of hazard (severity of outcome) X how likely is it.

So something that is unlikely to happen but if it did could cause serious injury or death is still high risk.

Microcephaly is no joke and the stage of your pregnancy makes baby most vulnerable to that.

I wouldn't go either. Best of luck with the pregnancy OP.

I would also say there's evidence it is sexually transmitted so you should avoid sex with your DH for a while after he returns. There's guidance online, I can't remember the time period that is recommended.

Thanks everyone for the kind messages. I didn't know you might be able to claim some money back based on the travel advice. I'll try that. Thanks again xx

Zika aside, as it's a very serious risk but PPs have basically covered it, I went to Malaysia in the first trimester as I didn't know I was pregnant until I landed and took a test and realised why I was being so sick on the plane. I spent the whole time in the hotel throwing up. Total waste of a holiday. If you don't know how pregnancy sickness will affect you I would strongly advise you not to go. Flying on a plane with hyperemesis gravidarum is absolutely awful.

the risk is very low but not worth it. I’d be more concerned about going there and then if you have a MC. I wouldn’t want to be away from home then.

The Zika risk is one aspect.
But also, though there is no suggestion you are likely to have another, with one miscarriage already it would be understandable that you wouldn't want to risk experiencing that abroad.
So with both those reasons I would have thought your brother would understand and you can both be sad and disappointed together even as he recognises you wouldn't miss it for anything less and that any prospective parent, or uncle, would want not want to jeopardise a baby.

I went to Barbados in May 2016 when Zika was all new and high risk, I was 5 and a half months pregnant. I used repellant spray, spent everyday on the beach or out and about and even visited family in an area known for lots of mosquitos. I didn’t get a single bite and I didn’t worry myself the whole time. I then went into labor at 33 weeks (end of June) and my son was born severely disabled including microcephaly so I immediately thought of zika however all tests were carried out and it was confirmed to be due to something called CMV which I contracted in the first trimester (more likely to catch anytime throughout your pregnancy at home as you have a young child) and nothing whatsoever to do with Zika!! If I had not gone on this holiday of a lifetime I would have still had the same outcome with my son (he is still perfect to me) so my point is, if you take the necessary precautions you should be absolutely fine, go, enjoy yourselves and celebrate your brothers wedding! xx

There is no way I would risk this, or contracting dengue. I think you might be able to claim on insurance if foreign office advice is not to go in pregnancy