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Post by AN on Jan 23, 2016 1:13:41 GMT
IF YOU ARE A WORRIER, CLOSE THIS THREAD RIGHT NOW. FAIR WARNING!!Holy hell! Have you guys heard about this? I just saw it for the first time. It's a mosquito-spread virus that 80% of people don't have symptoms of when they get it, it is spreading incredibly rapidly, and it has major negative impacts if a woman gets it when pregnant. This is crazy and terrifying for any woman who is planning a pregnancy in the next few years! Some highlights: - Brazil reported only 150 cases of microcephaly in 2014 before the virus arrived yet has recorded nearly 4,000 cases of the birth defect since October.
- El Salvador is advising women to not get pregnant in 2016 or 2017. Columbia is advising to hold off 6 - 8 months.
- Pregnant women are being advised by the CDC to not travel to Puerto Rico and 19 Central/South American countries.
- Cases have been found in the US, but only from people who recently traveled (for now).
- They think it may spread to the US as weather warms up.
Forget ebola, this seems wayyyyy crazier. www.scientificamerican.com/article/el-salvador-urges-against-pregnancies-until-2018-as-zika-virus-spreads/gizmodo.com/zika-virus-outbreak-prompts-cdc-to-expand-travel-adviso-1754572559
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 23, 2016 1:22:01 GMT
I just heard about this over the holidays from a friend with family in Brazil - I hadn't heard of it before. I'm now seeing it in news articles. I agree, this is pretty scary. We are traveling to South America this year, but I'm done with babies and we'll be in the mountains with fewer mosquitoes. But yikes!
ETA: The countries advising women against getting pregnant - are they also helping with family planning? This seems like a disaster in the making.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 4:28:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2016 1:31:54 GMT
I fear this. We have a huge migrant population here. I will not be surprised if we have cases here within a year.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 23, 2016 1:37:47 GMT
I'm booked on a week-long Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean next month and got an email from them today about this. It sounds like a serious medical concern -- especially for women of child-bearing ages.
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Post by mom on Jan 23, 2016 2:00:08 GMT
I just was coming to post about this. Scary stuff! I wonder if there is any way to prevent it from coming to the US? I doubt it or they would be trying it it the countries already effected. My fear is that people will not listen and then thousands of babies will have issues.
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Post by elaine on Jan 23, 2016 2:05:14 GMT
Since it is spread by mosquitos, rather than person-to-person, mosquito control will be key to it spreading. Unfortunately, we import so much fruit from South America that it is probably only a matter of time before we have enough hitch hiking mosquitos to start having an issue here, unless for some reason our environment won't support them and they die here.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jan 23, 2016 2:19:49 GMT
How is this going to work in Catholic majority countries? Colombia's population is approximately 70% Catholic, El Salvador is 50% Catholic and Brazil 64.63% Catholic. Do you think Pope Francis will make an announcement about this? Based on AN 's OP, it would be prudent for the Pope to intercede here and declare that women take precautions to prevent pregnancy, wouldn't it?
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,019
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 23, 2016 2:58:50 GMT
I just was coming to post about this. Scary stuff! I wonder if there is any way to prevent it from coming to the US? I doubt it or they would be trying it it the countries already effected. My fear is that people will not listen and then thousands of babies will have issues. I'm under the impression, based upon news articles I have heard, there have been several cases in the US already
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 23, 2016 3:21:37 GMT
I just was coming to post about this. Scary stuff! I wonder if there is any way to prevent it from coming to the US? I doubt it or they would be trying it it the countries already effected. My fear is that people will not listen and then thousands of babies will have issues. I'm under the impression, based upon news articles I have heard, there have been several cases in the US already These are from people who travelled out of the country recently. It is not currently being transmitted by mosquitos in this country.
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,838
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Jan 23, 2016 3:27:23 GMT
I'm booked on a week-long Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean next month and got an email from them today about this. It sounds like a serious medical concern -- especially for women of child-bearing ages. I got the same email from Carnival but we sail in September
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Post by jesq on Jan 23, 2016 3:46:17 GMT
I'm booked on a week-long Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean next month and got an email from them today about this. It sounds like a serious medical concern -- especially for women of child-bearing ages. My DD's boss is currently trying to get pregnant and was supposed to take a similar cruise this spring. She had purchased travel insurance and tried to cancel for this reason, but was told that was not a covered reason. That makes no sense to me if the cruise lines are warning about it.
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,128
Jun 29, 2014 12:11:41 GMT
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Post by M in Carolina on Jan 23, 2016 4:34:47 GMT
My mom is going to Costa Rica in a few days, and she's picking up a specific type of mosquito spray at REI that she and her friend are supposed to spray on their clothes.
My mom's best friend is getting her doctorate and is doing her thesis on human trafficking/slave labor in developing countries. She found this woman in Costa Rica that runs a home for rescued traffic girls, and that woman set her up with some people to interview about the clothing industry issues.
I've had a problem with buying clothing that is manufactured by slave labor already, and I have an idea that after this project is complete that I'm going to have a longer list of places not to buy from.
This is just another reason why I like consignment and thrift shopping. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.
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Post by elaine on Jan 23, 2016 5:34:22 GMT
Just as one can't catch malaria from someone with malaria - it is mosquito-born - you can't catch Zika from an infected person.
No need to fear humans with Zika - different from Ebola - you are safe.
Mosquitos, however, are evil. But we knew that.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,407
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jan 23, 2016 8:16:04 GMT
Mosquitos seek me out for miles around. No type of repellent or covering works. All these mosquito illnesses are terrifying.
I've been told old wives tales that the attraction has something to do with the potassium in my system.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jan 23, 2016 8:31:07 GMT
This was on the UK news last night. Tragic.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,762
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jan 23, 2016 8:37:06 GMT
The BBC had an article about it the other day and I felt so sorry for all the women and children affected and those that must now be worried sick. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-35388842According to the last line of the article there are 25,000 cases of microcephaly in the US every year. So, not a new condition but the increase in numbers, i.e. 4,000 since October in Brazil is terrifying.
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on Jan 23, 2016 9:26:13 GMT
Anyone here planning on attending the Rio Carnival next month, or the Olympics?
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BarbaraUK
Drama Llama
Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jan 23, 2016 9:30:29 GMT
I saw the BBC article and pictures the other day as well and felt so sad for the Mum's and babies affected. Also immediately thought of people who were planning to attend the Olympics who might be at risk.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 23, 2016 10:30:41 GMT
That is terrifying.
(And it makes me a bit relieved that I am finished having children).
I would like scientists to come up with a way of eradicating mosquitoes. All of them. Play with their DNA. Make them sterile. Find a way for them to stop surviving and thriving.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Jan 23, 2016 10:39:44 GMT
Just as one can't catch malaria from someone with malaria - it is mosquito-born - you can't catch Zika from an infected person. No need to fear humans with Zika - different from Ebola - you are safe. Mosquitos, however, are evil. But we knew that. I am currently in the Big Island of Hawaii, which is experiencing an outbreak of Dengue Fever. This paragraph which discusses both Dengue and Zika explain how people traveling to the US can bring these viruses. " The report does not pinpoint how the virus made its way to Hawaii, though it suggests the route would be that a person infected elsewhere still had the virus in his or her blood upon traveling to, or returning home to, Hawaii. From there, the scenario works like this: Mosquito bites person. Mosquito becomes infected. Mosquito bites other people. And so on." The article goes on to say they do not expect outbreaks of either virus to involve many people, because in the areas with the type of mosquitos which carry these illnesses people have air conditioning or at least screens on their doors and windows.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Jan 23, 2016 11:42:40 GMT
My 23yr old daughter and her husband are traveling to Brazil in late May, granted she is not pregnant nor does she intend to be for the trip--or quite a while afterwards aka years.. but what does she need to know? I haven't read up on it or anything,but just the other day I was telling her to be sure and put her bc pills in her carry on so she doesn't bring home a baby for a souvenir .. but really what does she need to know? how long could this be an issue after their trip?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 4:28:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2016 11:48:33 GMT
If there is a sudden drop in birth rates for 2-3 years the social impact for decades will be mind boggling as well.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Jan 23, 2016 13:58:22 GMT
I fear this. We have a huge migrant population here. I will not be surprised if we have cases here within a year. It is spread my mosquitos
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
Jan 4, 2015 1:47:52 GMT
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Post by AnotherPea on Jan 23, 2016 14:16:57 GMT
I fear this. We have a huge migrant population here. I will not be surprised if we have cases here within a year. It is spread my mosquitos Yes, mosquitoes transmit from host to hosts. More hosts with the virus, more transmissions. So migrant populations having the virus will cause the disease to spread. It is also believed to be transmitted through sex.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 23, 2016 15:03:27 GMT
Anyone here planning on attending the Rio Carnival next month, or the Olympics? We were actually thinking about attending the Olympics. I'm past kids, but I need to research further how long the virus could potentially impact future children - if they even know - which as a new problem, I'm sure they're still figuring out. I sure as hell wouldn't want to risk my daughter catching a virus that could impact her future children years from now.
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Post by myshelly on Jan 23, 2016 15:05:43 GMT
The Olympics. Wow. What a nightmare for all the female athletes. I mean, presumably none of them will be pregnant at the time of the games, but they are all of child bearing age. And coaches, reporters, etc. could well be pregnant at the time of the games.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jan 23, 2016 21:28:40 GMT
From what I have read, the issue is with women who are infected DURING pregnancy.
It is important to understand a few things. One is that only 20% of people who are infected will have symptoms and the symptoms are relatively mild. The virus only stays in the body for a few days to about a week, so the risk to a future pregnancy (as someone on this thread asked) is not an issue. It is the live virus in the body that is an issue. If you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, I simply would not go to one of these areas. If you must travel to an area where this virus is an issue and you are pregnant, use appropriate precautions INCLUDING insect repellent and repellent clothing.
If you are not pregnant, this virus is not really a big deal as far as I've read.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 23, 2016 23:09:24 GMT
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
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Jun 27, 2014 2:27:09 GMT
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Post by tanya2 on Jan 23, 2016 23:11:26 GMT
I'm booked on a week-long Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean next month and got an email from them today about this. It sounds like a serious medical concern -- especially for women of child-bearing ages. hmmm wonder if this is the same cruise I'm taking! We just got that email too, but my child-bearing days are thankfully behind me so not a concern
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 23, 2016 23:24:29 GMT
hmmm wonder if this is the same cruise I'm taking! The Glory out of Miami on Feb 13th?
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