Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

What is it really?
Seems like another end of the world plague and run for the hills on the media but the CDC paints a different picture

1 out of 5 infected will get ill. One out of FIVE?

Most common symptoms?
fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis.
Even the flu has more.

The CDC says the illness is mild - only lasting about a week and rarely anyone ever dies of this virus. Plus mention people rarely get sick enough to even see a doctor. Most here see a doctor for a bad run with Allergies.

So why exactly is this catastrophic again?

It seems the common cold spreads faster.

This is not to say I don't understand the risk to pregnancies. Then again really any illness has it's risk to a pregnancy.


So what am I missing?

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

The biggest reason for concern is microcephaly in newborns. Their brains are much smaller and it will affect them the rest of their lives. Walking, talking, everything. It could be detrimental to a newborn who's mother had it while pregnant.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

There are very serious birth defects happening.

Plus no one knows if it will affect a woman trying to have a baby. Meaning what happens if you get the virus and recover. Great.

What happens if you then get PG in 2 months, 6? a year? No one knows.

But babies are being born with small heads and its ravaging these southern countries.

Message edited 2/10/2016 3:40:56 PM.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

The concern is with pregnant women and that concern seems very serious and valid.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

I did say I got the pregnancy risk.

But for those of the population who are not in that demographic? This came up in my office where the ladies are all older women. Myself included who want no more children or can't have any. Men who are done as well. Their own children too young to be a factor. Even the older ones with child bearing children, they have children of their own and are done. So we sat eating left overs during lunch wondering why this was such a big concern. What are we missing. We all felt like we had to be missing something.

NONE OF US ever once said it was LESS of a risk to pregnancies. Even though there's been no direct proof however just probability from what's happened in Brazil. So why take any chance, right?

Still, like I said, ANY illness in pregnancy can have devastating affects, period. NONE should be taken lightly.

But one lady said a cruise was cancelled. Yet food poisoning on ships doesn't cancel a trip? Another suggested that child bearing couples be careful traveling to areas with possible virus, which was met with "Can't you keep it in your pants for a week, why cancel a trip?" And so on. Seems the only 'risk' is to getting pregnant or being pregnant. Otherwise. You'll get a little sick, that's it. Right?

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

For people not planning to get pregnant, the risk is basically nill.

For men, I believe Zika can pass through semen. Thus infecting a women, if she gets pregnant it is bad for the fetus.

The media isn't doing the best job of communicating this. From what I have been told by doctors, there is a lot of misinformation out there, hence the panic.

But the scary thing is, not enough studies have been done to show concrete evidence on long term effects and while the CDC and doctors recommend waiting one cycle, people will always be weary and overly cautious - perhaps rightfully so if you are planning to conceive.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Also, what I find interesting is why are people taking medical advice from CNN, Fox, and CBS?

If someone has a trip planned or is concerned they should call their doctor and discuss it with them!

That's what I did and I feel much better!

Message edited 2/10/2016 3:58:38 PM.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

I also just read that they linked it to guillain-barre syndrome.

ETA they are doing more research into it though. I think the biggest concern is the risk to unborn babies

Message edited 2/10/2016 4:06:40 PM.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Message edited 2/10/2016 4:05:16 PM.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

It's too new for us. We don't really know all of the implications yet.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

The thing is that most doctors don't really know the details yet either, they are calling the state boards of health. The concern is that it has now been sexually transmitted in some cases, so if people get it on trips and bring it back here, it could spread here in the US that way as well. Some areas of the US do have types of mosquitoes that could carry this virus, though they're not the identical ones in these other countries. If those mosquitoes bit someone who brought the virus back, even if they're not of childbearing age or interest, they could then bite someone who is and infect them. Then it would basically not be safe for women in Florida or Texas or wherever else it is likely to spread first to be TTC or currently pregnant for fear of a bite by that mosquito.

Honestly, blowing it up like this will help research dollars get allocated to it, and then we will learn more. I am 36 weeks pregnant and was talking to my OB about it last night (she's not pregnant but is of childbearing age and is about to go to the DR). She said (which is true), now that it's a big deal in the US, people will throw money at it. It's been a big deal in Brazil for a few years, and hasn't gotten the international attention.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Zika has been around for a long time. It's just now being linked with microcephaly since there has been a large increase in cases and many of the mothers have reported developing a rash like the one someone infected with zika would get.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Message edited 2/10/2016 10:28:14 PM.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

I actually read an article tonight that questioned the connection between the birth defects and Zika-it claimed that the Brazilian government had actually sprayed something incredibly toxic to treat the mosquitoes, and the birth defects didn't begin until after the spraying of this chemical.

I was actually curious-I've heard of the birth defects in Brazil, but have they been reported in other countries as well?

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Message edited 2/10/2016 10:32:23 PM.

Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

I was reading that a lot of the concern is that the mosquitos carrying this virus are present in the southern US. If this becomes an epidemic, the mosquitos can carry it from one person to the next and anyone who is unknowingly pregnant or becomes pregnant will be at risk. This is the reason other countries have halted all pregnancies until they can control it.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Message edited 2/11/2016 8:35:37 AM.

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

CDC

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

Re: Zika Virus.. lets talk about it

So a little girl infected now could potentially have a greater chance of having a child with a birth defect. We just don't have the data/studies.

Man--that's not good.