Zika in 2022 - could I have had it?

[BeccaT123]

i had a 12 week scan which sadly showed exencephaly - the skull of my baby has not formed properly.

I went to Cuba end of March and found out I l was pregnant when there. I was careful and had around 3 bites max.

I heard there’s no outbreaks there atm and I don’t think there’s been a reported case there for a couple of years (though I may be wrong)

now I am freaking out this is my fault and wishing I hadn’t gone to Cuba when hoping for a baby. Do you think there’s any chance this problem with the skull forming could be down to Zika???

is Zika still present in Cuba today??

thank you

So sorry to hear this. It would seem a possibility OP. I was looking at the .gov info and the TripAdvisor message boards as we were TTC whilst in Barbados in Jan, and I had the same concerns as you. I conceived in March, so hopefully enough time has passed since my visit, but I will have my 12 week scan soon, and I am anxious about Zika, too.

If you look at the Cuba message board on TripAdvisor, you’ll see people have been reporting cases of Zika. The .gov website lists Cuba as a risk, too. Although there isn’t currently an endemic, there are still cases, and the mosquitos do carry the virus.

When I was researching this for my hols, I wondered how the local ladies aren’t all affected - but, I read that they have probably had Zika virus before pregnancy, so they have immunity if they were to catch it during pregnancy, whereas tourists have no immunity to the virus.

Sorry OP. This really is not your fault at all. You can’t control mosquitos, and you can’t put your life on hold because you may or may not be successful in conceiving. You took every precaution possible - three bites is very impressive.

I thought Zika specifically caused microcephaly?

Either way, yes Cuba has specifically been listed as still at risk of Zika so there is an unfortunate risk you or your partner caught it there (was he bitten?).

I’d imagine you can get it, in Florida…not far away it is tested for. I was tested in 2018 it wasn’t an “outbreak” as such, more so just present.
do you remember getting bitten much?
in the U.K. they can test you for exposure (antibodies) so ask for it or do it privately if they won’t.

Thanks all

@Juno231 Yes they usually do which makes me think hopefully it isn’t as mine is a neural tube defect

but I’ve heard Zika can still cause this - does anyone know much about this??

maube the chances are slim it was Zika - I’m hoping so. I may do a test but I’ll hate myself if it comes back positive.