Zika outbreak in Caribbean. 4 weeks pregnant. To go or not to go?

January 17, 2016 1:35 PM

We just found out my wife is pregnant (yay!). Our honeymoon is scheduled for 1/31 (cruise out of NYC - 2 weeks). The only two locations on the CDC list on our itinerary are San Juan and Martinique. We could stay on the ship at those ports.

You are not a doctor, or if you are, you're not our doctor. We are consulting our own doctor.

Would YOU go?

posted by eggman to Health & Fitness (37 answers total)

Nope. I would not.
posted by discopolo at 1:44 PM on January 17, 2016 [23 favorites]

The virus is spread through mosquito bites. Not leaving the ship at the particular ports doesn't mean you won't get bitten while at those ports. I definitely, positively, would not go. No way.
posted by holborne at 1:44 PM on January 17, 2016 [13 favorites]

I would not go. The risk may be low, but the cost should something happen is too high.
posted by OrangeDisk at 1:51 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

the cdc advisory says:

Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant: Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.

given that, i probably wouldn't go (if you do, i'd follow the advice and see a doctor).

[edited - missed that quote in the advisory; originally linked to two sources]
posted by andrewcooke at 1:51 PM on January 17, 2016

You didn't ask this and it is unrelated to the outbreak. I went on a cruise at 7 1/2 weeks pregnant right when my morning sickness hit and it was the worst. I was so tired and so sick.
posted by RoadScholar at 1:52 PM on January 17, 2016 [6 favorites]

I agree that staying on the ship does very little to protect you. If you're not comfortable getting off the ship, I wouldn't go at all.
posted by Betelgeuse at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2016

The pregnancy is still early. If the pregnancy were to terminate during or after the trip, I know I personally would have difficulties not blaming myself and the trip for it, even if the trip were not the cause.

There are so many things you can't control with a pregnancy. This is one I wouldn't mess with.
posted by jillithd at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2016 [12 favorites]

I would not go. what's more, given the travel advisory, if you have cancellation insurance, that should cover you.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2016 [4 favorites]

I would not take a cruise while pregnant because they are well-known germ farms, and I ate blue cheese, drank raw milk, and had some cured meat and sushi while pregnant (I work in food, I stayed away from commercially processed products, generally.) That's how strongly I believe you should not take a cruise while pregnant.
posted by jbenben at 1:58 PM on January 17, 2016 [23 favorites]

The Zika outbreak and its impacts on babies in the womb sound pretty serious. I would not go.
posted by salvia at 2:02 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

Nope. I'm pretty laid back about pregnancy restrictions but I would not take this risk. You wouldn't even necessarily have symptoms and it could have devastating consequences on your fetus.
posted by lydhre at 2:07 PM on January 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

There are risks to every pregnancy, but you do not voluntarily sail into them. You can take a trip any time. Brain damage is forever.
posted by sageleaf at 2:21 PM on January 17, 2016 [6 favorites]

Why take the risk? .. Seriously? Why?
posted by jessca84 at 2:40 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

Think of this not as just a possible risk but your first major parenting decision that *could* result in severe damage to your child. I would definitely not go.
posted by Amy93 at 2:42 PM on January 17, 2016 [5 favorites]

Absolutely would not go. The risk of Zika is scary but the thought of morning sickness on a boat is horrifying.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:58 PM on January 17, 2016 [13 favorites]

Add my no. I just had a miscarriage and have had trouble not blaming myself for having my one (endorsed by my OB) caffeinated soda a day. I cannot imagine the guilt if something happened that I had been warned about/could have prevented. No, no, no.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:01 PM on January 17, 2016

Would definitely cancel. The CDC warning would obliterate any mixed feelings that I might have.
posted by DMelanogaster at 3:14 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

I would not go. The downside is just so big and scary.
posted by kitten magic at 3:15 PM on January 17, 2016

By the way, I am very interested in what your doctor says - would love a follow-up response.
posted by DMelanogaster at 3:15 PM on January 17, 2016

No way would I go. The risk just isn't worth it. (I had a holiday booked and paid for when I became pregnant. There was a major dengue outbreak there. I cancelled it.)
posted by Jubey at 3:26 PM on January 17, 2016

I'd call the cruise's company, explain your situation and concerns, and see if you can reschedule the trip for a year from now or so. I don't know how flexible they'll be but, chances are, they'd rather have you safe and happy than lose your business or deal with a lawsuit.

Congratulations, and good luck!
posted by smorgasbord at 3:33 PM on January 17, 2016 [8 favorites]

Don't go, not worth it, and notice the comment from one person about morning sickness on a ship....not a fun time, and anxiety about catching something even if nothing happens will ruin the trip. Try to get your money back and do it another time. CDC says don't do it, take their word.
posted by mermayd at 3:38 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

I would not go if you threw in the 1.5 billion lottery ticket on top. Too many things are unknown right now. What IS known is that this area can be very dangerous for a growing fetus. Cancel now.
posted by pearlybob at 3:59 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

Absolutely not. I wouldn't go on a cruise while pregnant for a laundry list of reasons but add in the Zika outbreak and it's a hot quick no.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 4:00 PM on January 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

I mean, even if you're safe, if you're worrying about it it won't be a very relaxing vacation.
posted by you're a kitty! at 4:18 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

I wouldn't go, because even if the risk is relatively small, you don't want to remember your honeymoon as a time when you were constantly worried about whether something would seriously harm your future child. I'd inquire with the cruise line about whether you can rebook for later, but even if they say no, I'd cancel.
posted by brianogilvie at 5:39 PM on January 17, 2016

The symptoms of Zika are... A mild fever. Pretty much indistinguishable from any virus ever. Do you really want to get a run of the mill airplane cold and spend the next eight months worried about your baby's head measurements? There will be other vacations. Take a pass on this one.
posted by telepanda at 6:18 PM on January 17, 2016 [9 favorites]

My family's tolerance for risk is pretty high. My wife and I lived 15 years in rural east Africa, had our first child there, and worked very hard to keep her from getting malaria. From what I just read about this disease, my answer would be no. For me, I just couldn't bear the process of going through tests, ultrasounds, and the waiting process to learn that my baby is okay. Pregnancy is stressfull enough without adding exotic variables.
posted by MacChimpman at 6:25 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

There are so many things that might be bad for growing fetuses that the US government never gets to the point of warning people about. That this reached this level, and fairly quickly it seemed, suggests to me that it's pretty clear cut.
posted by salvia at 6:31 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

I would not go.
posted by Toddles at 7:06 PM on January 17, 2016

Why take a chance? Don't go.
posted by Dansaman at 12:43 AM on January 18, 2016

Do you need more people telling you "no"? NPR had a public health official on who said something like, "Well, we aren't to the point of telling people not to get pregnant..." Takeaway: there is a stage at which they would actively start recommending a mass reduction in birthrate, and it's in sight. That's terrifying. It's something out of an apocalyptic SF novel, except real life.
posted by teremala at 6:38 AM on January 18, 2016 [5 favorites]

Welcome to parenthood! Not going on this trip you planned is the first of many sacrifices you will make for your developing baby. As responsible parents to be, cancel the trip and pat yourselves on the back for how mature you are and how happy you will be to not be worrying about the possibility of infection at your appointments a few months from now.
posted by rmless at 6:58 AM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

It's not just your own baby you have to worry about -- if you get infected and bring it home with you, you run the risk of mosquitoes biting you this summer and then spreading it to the other people they bite. It's already in Hawaii...
posted by Jacqueline at 12:44 PM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

Just to add to the pile-on, I have a high risk tolerance for this kind of stuff AND I think women in the US are generally infantilized and condescended to with regard to health and behavioral stuff during pregnancy. I would 100% not go anywhere with a Zika outbreak as a pregnant woman right now.
posted by superfluousm at 6:27 AM on January 19, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks to all for your answers--obviously we're not going. We do have travel insurance, but I'm not sure if the CDC warning would be covered under our policy. Bonus points if you can help with a fight with insurance companies over travel cancellations!
posted by eggman at 11:17 AM on January 19, 2016 [2 favorites]

Confirming you made the right decision, here's a sad news story about 9 pregnant women from the US diagnosed with zika.
posted by salvia at 8:24 PM on February 29, 2016