Zika and holiday

[littleone7]

Hi I'd love some advice please...

We have a holiday booked to Antigua for the end of September but I've just found out I'm pregnant!

I'm aware that there's a risk of Zika but very little is said about the current situation online.

Has anyone got any advice or if you've been to a zika country whilst pregnant?

Thanks!

Isn't there a vaccine u can get?

Quite a bit of info here
travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/10/antigua-and-barbuda#Other_risks

Does say pregnant women should consider not going. Sorry.
If you do decide to go consider insect proof clothes (eg craighopper have stuff) and lots of repellent at dawn and dusk, especially. I'm pretty careful but mosquitoes really do attack me im tropical places, if i
I give them the slightest chance.

Thanks. I'm lucky in the fact that I don't really get bitten and I've been to plenty of places with mosquitoes.

I'll take a read of that link

@littleone7

Thanks. I'm lucky in the fact that I don't really get bitten and I've been to plenty of places with mosquitoes.

I'll take a read of that link

You likely do get bitten but you just don't react to them. I went years thinking I never got bitten because my skin was always fine whereas my husband would be covered in red marks, then one day I saw one land on my arm and actually saw it bite me. Once I started paying attention I realised I actually was getting plenty bites. Just something to keep in mind.

If you do decide to change your flights then I recommend The Seychelles, its zika free and I much preferred it to Antigua!

You do get bitten but probably just don't produce a histamine reaction.

Cancel your holiday its really not worth the risk.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/zika_love_stories

I wouldn’t risk going when there’s so many other places to visit that are zika free

That's really interesting about getting bitten but not producing histamine response. Agree with move to Seychelles.

There’s plenty of information online and it’s pretty clear.

“Pregnant women should consider avoiding travel to this country until after the pregnancy”

travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/10/antigua-and-barbuda#Other_risks

Linked to from the GOV U.K. travel advice for the area

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/antigua-and-barbuda/health

Just to add I think you need to be careful with insect repellants when pregnant so check which you are allowed to use.

I personally wouldn't go but I haven't read the link on the specific risks.

Wherever you go get good travel insurance and bring a little first aid kit in case you need it, hopefully you won't have to use either.

I personally would change the destination. The birth defects from Zika are really horrendous, wouldn't risk it. We purposefully waited 6 months after our honeymoon to TTC because one of the destinations had Zika virus.