Travelling to a Zika virus affected area

[Lisp27]

We're due to go to Thailand at the end of June for two weeks.
Yesterday, I found out that I am 5 weeks pregnant. This has come as a complete shock as we've been struggling with IVF.
We booked Thailand to get away from all things fertility related, and to our surprise, I have found out that I am pregnant!

I have yet to speak to my GP or midwife, but I wanted to get your opinion on travelling to a zika risk area.

Should we carry on as normal and still go on the trip or cancel, then try and get some money back (highly unlikely) and count our blessings that I'm actually pregnant.

Any advice welcomed.

With my first pregnancy I went on my honeymoon at 10-11 weeks pregnant to the Maldives which has Zika virus

I had no idea about the Zika Virus, I'd mentioned to my midwife I was going on my honeymoon at my booking in appt and she didn't mention it either.

I only discovered a few years down the line about it when my best friend got pregnant and mentioned to me that she was worried about going on holiday to a zika affected country and I asked her about it then discovered the Maldives had it...DS was 3 years old at this point 😂

Ah heck. I don't think anyone could advise you really. It would depend on what you think about the stats and your attitude towards risk etc. However, how about changing it for a holiday to Mauritius / Maldives / Seychelles type places? Almost as fabulous and so far as I'm aware, no Zika (do check this).
Oh, and, congratulations!

Ha, not the Maldives then!!

Personally I wouldn’t go. The risk is small but if something went wrong you’d really regret it.

A practice nurse at your gp surgery will be able to help and give travel advice xxx

Me again.. also take a look at this website Travel Health Pro which is great.

travelhealthpro.org.uk/tag/14/pregnancy

Xxx

I was in your exact position 4 years ago, I cancelled our trip to Thailand and managed to claim it back. For me it wasn't worth the risk, but it has to be your decision. congratulations!!

Thank you!

It depends on where in Thailand you are going. I have discussed work travel in South Asia with my GP, and they said that if I am in 5 star hotels in the city, it is fine. If I were going to more rural areas, any fields, rice paddies, jungle, then not fine.

I can appreciate though that work and holiday travel are super different, and if I were going on holiday, I might change my destination, so I can feel more at peace and free to do whatever I want. Also, if unlucky, you might still have some remaining nausea end of June, and a flight to Thailand would be really uncomfortable! (Although at least it is not Italy! I would be devastated to have booked a holiday there and then not get to drink the wine 😂)

Contact your travel insurance company to see what they think about cancelling btw, and how soon you have to do it. If you are on the fence about it, you could wait until 1-2 weeks before travel, and see how you feel about it then, with the stage of pregnancy you are at then.

Thank you that is great advice. I'm waiting to speak with my GP to understand if I'm even allowed to go. That would then be my decision made!

Hi what did the doctor say to you?

we have been TTC for 4/5 months and partner booked Thailand in October, advise is not to conceive for 2/3 months after even if you don’t get the virus but the thought of delaying it further after trying for a while is upsetting. Not sure if guidance is overkill precaution or should be followed 100%. Thanks.

Hi what did the doctor say to you?

we have been TTC for 4/5 months and partner booked Thailand in October, advise is not to conceive for 2/3 months after even if you don’t get the virus but the thought of delaying it further after trying for a while is upsetting. Not sure if guidance is overkill precaution or should be followed 100%. Thanks.