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Destination Weddings Discussions
ahoywedding
member
Zika?
Is anyone concerned about Zika affecting their DW? We are not having a DW, but my sister is planning one for (an affected area). It's definitely within the current danger zone for Zika. I've read a lot of resort websites and travel accounts from other people who have said most resorts have been majorly spraying for mosquitoes and there aren't issues as long as you stay within the resort area. I'm mostly concerned because FI and I were wanting to start trying to get pregnant a few months after her wedding, and now it's got me all nervous.
My sister for the most part has been completely oblivious to this concern and seems to think it won't affect anyone coming. Her FI basically told me "well you guys are screwed if you want to get pregnant I guess." I love my sister and don't want to miss her wedding but I also don't want to put my health at risk.
*edited to remove location to remain some semblance of anonymity*
My sister for the most part has been completely oblivious to this concern and seems to think it won't affect anyone coming. Her FI basically told me "well you guys are screwed if you want to get pregnant I guess." I love my sister and don't want to miss her wedding but I also don't want to put my health at risk.
*edited to remove location to remain some semblance of anonymity*
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Re: Zika?
I probably wouldn't be traveling to an area that is currently in the danger zone if I was planning on getting pregnant in the next few years. For me, there are too many unknowns and the potential side effects are too severe for me to risk it. Honestly I don't know many of my friends that would do anything differently. My sister changed her HM because she was so concerned.
If your sister had already started planning and is not interested in changing you may have to decide if the risks are worth it. Many resorts are spraying, you can be careful about spray and clothing, but really you'll have to decide if these precautions are enough for you.
I would not change any of my TTC plans. I believe that now they are recommending avoiding TTC for at least 6 months if you have traveled to a known zika area. Its not even just you, that you have to worry about, but your H as well cannot contract the disease since it is transferable via sex. There was even a zika patient who contracted it from his dying father's tears.
As Charlotte said, you do need to decide for yourself if the risks of going there are worth it. Personally, I would not have gone while H and I were TTC and I would not go now as a pregnant woman either.
- Women wait at least 8 weeks after their symptoms first appeared before trying to get pregnant.
- Men wait at least 6 months after their symptoms first appeared to have unprotected sex.
- In making these recommendations, we considered the longest known risk period for these categories. We then allowed for three times the known period of time.
For men and women without symptoms of Zika virus but who had possible exposure to Zika from recent travel or sexual contact, CDC recommends healthcare providers advise their patients wait at least 8 weeks after their possible exposure before trying to get pregnant in order to minimize risk.This is from the CDC website. Can't get the link to post right now.
Ultimately, you need to choose what's right for your and your family.
I was more wondering if anyone else planning a DW had heard from their guests they maybe weren't going to attend due to Zika, and how you're handling it. Because it seems like my sister is going about things the wrong way lol.
A few years back, a co-worker had planned her DW in Mexico. They invited a ton of people and had gotten a good number of yes RSVPs. About two weeks before their departure, a travel warning was issued for travel to Mexico because of the swine flu. Some people immediately started to back out. She was obviously upset and disappointed and considered canceling, but after thinking things through, she decided to keep her plans. She got in touch with everyone who had booked to attend to see if they planned on canceling. For those that did cancel (about half of her guests!), she told them she understood their reasoning and thanked them for their support. She then worked with the resort to revamp anything that needed to be changed because the number of attendees had changed.
I'm not sure where your sister is with planning, but Zika has been out there for awhile. So, if people RSVPed already, they are probably pretty firm on coming. If she just decided on Mexico and didn't really run it by anyone, then maybe you can suggest that she chat with the VIPs on both sides to see if anyone has any concerns.
Of course, it could be that she really wants to get married in Mexico and doesn't care if people can't attend, including you. I'm sure that is super disappointing, but if that is what she prefers, then you have to be accepting of that and she has to understand and accept the consequences.
I think I'll probably end up planning to go and purchase some good travel insurance, in case the crap hits the fan in the months or weeks leading up to the trip. I'm not sure what her resort's policy would be if they decide to scrap the whole thing there, but that's not my issue to deal with I guess!
When purchasing insurance, be sure to purchase a cancel for any reason policy. Most insurances are no longer covering Zika cancellations because it's been a widely known issue for some time. Of course, all policies would not cover "my sister cancelled her wedding because she didn't talk to anyone". So, be sure to get that cancel for any reason coverage.
As someone who is regularly a favorite snack for mosquitoes, I just wanted to pooh-pooh the notion of "there's no danger at resorts that regularly spray". I'm sure that is what they would like people to think.
But if there are mosquitoes in an area, there is a chance of being bitten. Every year I do as much precautions as I can. Douse myself in mosquito spray multiple times a day. Wear long pants and a shirt (at least inside). They also spray for mosquitoes where I live (though I'm guessing not as often as a resort). I still get bit multiple times a day, every day in the summer.
Precautions surely help, but I just don't think anyone can rely on "do X,Y,Z and you won't get bit".
I did not have any Zika symptoms (even though Fiji has an active Zika outbreak). DH DID get sick our last day there, although none of his symptoms were Zika symptoms. I think his sickness was more related to diving with congestion.
When we returned I spoke with my doctor about TTC since I had no symptoms and DH was sick with, we assume, something else. She said the only way to test for it is a blood test, and unless you are showing symptoms (4 out of 5 people don't show symptoms), the insurance companies won't pay for it. She suggested we wait the CDC recommended 6 months (because DH got sick, even though it wasn't Zika symptoms, why risk your baby). So that's what we're doing. We will wait until February to start TTC.
DH had even called a travel medicine doctor when we returned home and was still sick. With his symptoms, they wouldn't see him for two weeks. By that time he was better.
Even if the resorts are spraying daily, they are not forming a mosquito safe dome around the resort. You are still susceptible to being bitten. If you go, go with the mindset that you are waiting another 6 months.
One tip I did read after my honeymoon and the 60 bites debacle, buy your bug spray once you get to your destination. Apparently bug sprays are formulated to deal with the mosquitoes regionally.
I'll throw this out there, too, since we're talking about mosquito bites, don't forget to pack an anti-histamine. I am usually good about remembering it, but forgot for Fiji. The only thing on our island was our resort and a closed down Sheraton resort (cyclone damage). Our resort did not have any form of anti-histamine to purchase, and they were quite stingy with the cream they had at reception. I relied on the strangely soothing effect the ocean water had.
Since it's discovery, there hasn't been a spike in birth defects in regions where Zika is prevalent until 2015, where we saw an increase in microcephaly solely in NE Brazil; We are not seeing an increase in birth defects in any other region so far.
In fact there was a study of 12,000 pregnant women in Columbia who had contracted Zika and there were zero reported cases of microcephaly:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160624150813.htm
http://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMsr1604338
Researchers are now looking into the theory that other factors, and not just Zika alone, are contributing to microcephaly, such as co -infections of dengue, chikungunya, or yellow fever:
http://www.nature.com/news/brazil-asks-whether-zika-acts-alone-to-cause-birth-defects-1.20309
All this is to say that there is no known cause yet for the spike in micocephaly cases in Brazil.
That being said, if I was TTC or pregnant, I'd avoid those tropical regions, period. I wouldn't go and then delay TTC for half a year- I just wouldn't go until we figure out wtf is going on or I'm no longer TTC/pregnant.
It's obvious that the scientific community has no idea just yet what is causing the high rates of microcephaly in Brazil, and therefore I'm not sure how the CDC came up with this "wait 6 months" safety metric.
Also, whether it's Zika or not is irrelevant because you can still contract a host of other really nasty shit in those regions, including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya, none of which I'd want to be exposed to while pregnant and expose my fetus to.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
If your sister hasn't booked anything yet I would suggest a Zika free zone. Even though we were in South Beach for a week & didn't see a single mosquito the concern & risk was still there. I am sure she will have guests pull out & personally if I knew that 6 weeks before my wedding Zika was going to be a major concern I would have picked a different place but still a DW. My wedding was still amazing but having our entire guest list text & call us about Zika in the weeks leading up to the wedding added so much stress on top of everything else. We took it stride though & did what we could to ease concerns.
We just got back from our honeymoon in DR and brought thermocells with us so that we could turn them on our patio and not worry. Of course bring some high deet bug spray (not in an areosol can). Both can be bought at any sports store or probably even walmart in the hunting section. We just checked our bags and accepted the risk if they searched and took the thermocells, but we didnt have any problems. I would just bring a few thermocells to set up around the ceremony (under chairs or something) and you will be clear! Goodluck!!
When we got back I insisted on getting tested, with or without showing symptoms. We called the local DHEC here and they let us come into their EPI clinic and get tested for free. Huge relief to just KNOW.
We felt it would be wrong of us to invite people to the place where we both contracted the virus. It was a tough decision since everyone is still traveling to areas where you can get it, but we felt it was the right thing to do.