Zika questions/opinions

[iancal]

We were in P. Vallarta last week. We had occasion to ask a health professional about this since our daughter is considering a trip. Of course, this is hardly representative of other areas in Mexico.

 

The answer was there have been 4 confirmed cases in the past several months. Have no idea of course about unconfirmed/unreported cases.

 

Keep in mind this area is surrounded by jungle and by sea. We did not see any mosquitos by the ocean (that of course does not mean that they are not present), nor did we venture more than four or five blocks inland from the ocean.

[BeachChik]

That is totally untrue. The Zika virus has been linked to an increase in Guillain Barre, a very serious disease that causes paralysis. If you knew someone who had the disease you would not be so nonchalant.

 

Having said that, the chance of contracting the disease is very, very small. However EVERYONE needs to consider the risks and make sure they are protected. I would refer you to the CDC site to be aware of all the risks and the areas it affects. https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

 

It is absolutely true that most show no symptoms with the Zika virus. These same mosquitos carry many viruses including malaria, West Nile virus, chikungunya. Chikungunya can also cause GB but in either case it is very rare. Zika is the current craze for fear mongering but the risk for issues is very low. Stating facts is not being nonchalant. It's simply not feeding into the bs considering Zika has been around since the 40's.

 

A year ago people were panicking that we would all get Ebola. Yet now we don't hear anything about it because we have moved on to Zika. :rolleyes:

These are not new diseases and we aren't all going to get them suddenly, it's just the current news scare that I'm sure in six months will be something new.

 

And I say all this as someone living in a state that had local transmission and was pregnant. Yet I can't recall the last time I saw anything about it on local news.

[BeachChik]

A lot is still being learned about Zika.

 

It is now known that the virus has been detected in certain bodily fluids many weeks later.

What this means? Not yet understood.

 

And there have been neurological problems detected in children who were not diagnosed at birth, meaning they didn't have the usual characteristics or tests.

So there is some thought now that the virus may continue to do some harm later than initially assumed.

 

It's all just too new, and there haven't - yet - been large patient groups to observe or test for years... and years...

 

Not new. The virus has been known since 1947.

[calliopecruiser]

Why aren't your adult children making decisions for themselves?

 

A lot is still being learned about Zika.

 

It is now known that the virus has been detected in certain bodily fluids many weeks later.

What this means? Not yet understood.

 

And there have been neurological problems detected in children who were not diagnosed at birth, meaning they didn't have the usual characteristics or tests.

So there is some thought now that the virus may continue to do some harm later than initially assumed.

 

It's all just too new, and there haven't - yet - been large patient groups to observe or test for years... and years...

 

Zika's been around for decades, but there seems to be some mutation of the virus that are causing some increased problems in some places. There are very specific pockets of locations where severe birth defects are much more common than in other places. And two people with Zika virus with have very different symptoms and resulting problems. Even twin feti in a mother infected with Zika virus can have very different symptoms and results.......so obviously there's far more going on than just the virus carried by the mosquito. Remember that "detecting" the virus in the blood means nothing other than there's been some exposure within the last couple of weeks.....it doesn't mean that the virus will cause problems, or will be the cause of any problems that might turn up. It might be sitting there inactive, or simply be a bystander to another virus, bacteria, or parasite.

 

The biggest problem is for women of childbearing age who might get pregnant......so if you or your spouse is not of childbearing age and/or won't become pregnant, it's not a big threat. Could it cause some issues? Yes. Could a half dozen other problems carried in a mosquito bite cause issues? Yes. I would say that unless you or your partner might become pregnant, you should worry more about Malaria, Chikungunya, and Dengue.

[sail7seas]

I would like to know where you got this information. Based on everything I have read, the virus, if you get it, clears from your blood stream within one to two weeks.

 

The Red Cross asks donors to wait four weeks before donating if they have been to a Zika area.

 

I've read nothing that indicates it lies dormant for years.

 

A lot is still being learned about Zika.

 

It is now known that the virus has been detected in certain bodily fluids many weeks later.

What this means? Not yet understood.

 

And there have been neurological problems detected in children who were not diagnosed at birth, meaning they didn't have the usual characteristics or tests.

So there is some thought now that the virus may continue to do some harm later than initially assumed.

 

It's all just too new, and there haven't - yet - been large patient groups to observe or test for years... and years...

 

 

This happens ;ofte n in threads here on CC... One person has not read something or experienced it on the ship about it so they imply it cannot be true. NONE of us know everything about everyything. :) I think we should make more use of (IMO) in some of our POSTS. there are times a POSSTER CORRECTING SOMEONE ELSE is actually le ss acurate than the original poster. :)

Edited December 12, 2016 by sail7seas

[GeezerCouple]

Not new. The virus has been known since 1947.

 

The detailed medical research studies are what is new.

There were not long-term followup studies started back then, probably for a variety of reasons.

 

As I wrote in what you quoted:

"It's all just too new, and there haven't - yet - been large patient groups to observe or test for years... and years..."

The observation of large patient groups will take years and years, to learn the long term effects that aren't yet known/understood, if any.

 

But the bottom line is that we just don't know what the long term effects are.

 

What we find especially disturbing is that what little medical research followup that is beginning... is starting to suggest that there might be more and longer term effects than was thought initially when the recent big outbreak began.

[calliopecruiser]

 

But the bottom line is that we just don't know what the long term effects are.

 

 

Right......but we don't know what the long term effects are of most things. We don't know what the long term effects are of many diseases that can mutate at any time; we don't know the long term effects of many drugs that joined the marketplace within the last 5 years; we don't know the long term effects of wearable technology like FitBits; we don't know the long term effect of genetically engineered food.

 

you could go nuts worrying about all the things we don't know the long term effects of.

[Hlitner]

Everyone has their own risk tolerance. If one is pregnant or trying to get pregnant it is advised to avoid Zika areas. Otherwise it is a matter of your personal tolerance. If you are one that frets over this kind of issue then perhaps it's wise to move to Alaska. Yes, Zika is a risk as is Dengue, Malaria, Beri Beri, elephantitus, scurvy, etc.

 

Hank

[sail7seas]

One of the tvnet work aifffilites in Bosn had a news story yesterday a bout there beingf reports of 'home gown' Zika casdes in Texas recently. Thisz ika vius seems to still be acitvely infecting.

Edited December 15, 2016 by sail7seas