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#83413 01/22/2016 07:20 AM
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Our pregnant daughter is considering cancelling her February trip. She talked to an island resident and they told her no one is really talking about it. The only info we have is the Daily Herald article that states one confirmed case. Yes, the stakes are high but is she over reacting? Does anyone on island or has recently been on island have any I imput ?

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SandS #83414 01/22/2016 07:28 AM
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The notices are especially for pregnant women. I would err on the side of caution if I were her. It takes about 4 to 7 days to get over it.

SXM??? Wendell

SandS #83415 01/22/2016 07:31 AM
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I would think this would be better addressed with your daughter's doctors and take their opinion and thoughts into consideration.

The pregnant women who live on the island have to deal with it but they don't have the options your daughter and others have.


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I agree ABSOLUTELY. She needs to discuss this with her doctor who hopefully is well informed on the topic and knows there has been a diagnosed case there. The wrong decision could be devastating for all concerned and it only takes one tiny moskie bite but the effects of that same bite could be horrendous.


Respectfully,

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Agreed...with this disease early pregnancy is probably a good time to err on the side of caution.

boucharda #83418 01/22/2016 02:27 PM
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Last edited by Zanshin; 01/22/2016 02:35 PM.

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Zanshin #83419 01/22/2016 02:39 PM
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Thank you everyone. The decision was easy once the CDC added St Maarten to the Alert Level 2. I guess we will have an additional guest next year.

SandS #83420 01/23/2016 06:41 AM
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I was surprised to read that the CDC recommends a HepA vaccine to travel to SXM

SandS #83421 01/23/2016 07:27 AM
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SandS said:
Thank you everyone. The decision was easy once the CDC added St Maarten to the Alert Level 2. I guess we will have an additional guest next year.


I don't really understand your post, but you do know that Zika is only a danger to unborn children? Its effects are very minor in adults.

RonDon #83422 01/23/2016 07:36 AM
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RonDon said:
I was surprised to read that the CDC recommends a HepA vaccine to travel to SXM

A local friend contracted Hepatitis A while on St Martin some years ago. It occurs from ingesting contaminated food or water. He was quite sick, missed weeks of work. After that, we got Hep A vaccine!

GaKaye #83423 01/23/2016 07:58 AM
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In the original post: "Our pregnant daughter is considering cancelling her February trip"
so this would be a major consideration!

iscrogr #83424 01/23/2016 09:36 AM
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iscrogr said:
In the original post: "Our pregnant daughter is considering cancelling her February trip"
so this would be a major consideration!


Oops! I didn't put the last post together with the original one! Yes, a major consideration.

GaKaye #83425 01/23/2016 12:53 PM
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S and S was referring to the fact that because their daughter is pregnant, she has decided not to go with them this year, but next year when they go, she will be going with the new baby as an additional guest.She made this decision after more warnings were posted as it is a danger to pregnant women.




SandS #83426 01/23/2016 02:10 PM
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Probably a wise choice unless staying clothed head to toe in air conditioning. We've been bit each trip in both the daytime and night time on the beach and in restaurants on both sides of the island especially if winds are calm. Given the effects on a baby. I hope this subsides back to "normal" dengue fever and chickingunga.

GaKaye #83427 01/23/2016 02:15 PM
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Quote
GaKaye said:
Quote
SandS said:
Thank you everyone. The decision was easy once the CDC added St Maarten to the Alert Level 2. I guess we will have an additional guest next year.



I don't really understand your post, but you do know that Zika is only a danger to unborn children? Its effects are very minor in adults.


Pretty sure that's the point; the pregnant daughter won't be coming this year, but the grandchild will be next year.

Congrats and good luck to the growing fmaily! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

jenniboston #83428 01/23/2016 04:10 PM
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Yes, I get it now. I didn't read the initial post carefully enough.

GaKaye #83429 01/24/2016 09:21 AM
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While on the subject of Zika (and Chikungunya) virus and their vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus - does anyone know where on island I could get either dilute or concentrated permethrin? I'd like to soak some of my daytime clothing and sheets in it to get a measure of protection. While treated clothing is available and I know that self-treated clothing only lasts about 5-8 washes I'd prefer to keep my own threads smile
p.s. For those who aren't aware of it, the U.S. military treats their BDUs with this same solution; coupled with strong DEET on skin it offers almost 100% protection from mozzies, ticks and other nasties.


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Zanshin #83430 01/24/2016 09:44 AM
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I would be interested as well because I can treat my clothing before I leave (available at Bass stores) but if we're on island longer than 2 weeks, would want to add again since it's effectiveness dissipates with each washing.

RonDon #83431 01/24/2016 11:29 AM
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Story ran on Canadian News last night. A doctor was interviewed and she said she is advising all of her pregnant patients not to go to ANY island in the Caribbean this year due to Zika. The doctor said Mothers-to-be who are infected with Zika stand the chance of delivering babies with small heads and undersized brains leading to possible developmental issues. Very scary!

Teresasxm #83432 01/24/2016 12:00 PM
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RonDon - I don't know if there's a source on-island, but if not I'll be using 4-Star Cargo to ship some from mainland USA; I'm in the UK at the moment and can only get 350ml of 0.5% solution for about £8.50 - that's very expensive compared to the USA market which has veterinary 10% solution in larger quantities and this can be diluted and applied to clothing and other items. In your case you could just take it with you in your baggage.

p.s. 7 washings is a lot to do in 2 weeks smile If you hand-wash the treatment will last even longer, since it is mechanical and not chemical action that removes the protection.


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Teresasxm #83433 01/24/2016 01:26 PM
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Teresasxm said:
Story ran on Canadian News last night. A doctor was interviewed and she said she is advising all of her pregnant patients not to go to ANY island in the Caribbean this year due to Zika.


She sounds like a smart and common sense doctor to me.

Zika will inevitably spread to the same places where Chikungunya has spread to, and Dengue before that. Before long, if not already the case, there won't be an island in the Caribbean where Zika isn't present.

LovesSXM #83434 01/25/2016 10:58 AM
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We recently had an article in our local paper about a child being born in a nearby county with an extremely small head. It was because the mother had been to an infected country and had been bitten by the Asian tiger mosquito. That is the mosquito that carries the Zika virus. It does cause a fairly mild fever, rash and headaches in adults, pregnant or not.

biglar #83435 01/26/2016 07:21 AM
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biglar: The vector for Zika is the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It also carries dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya.

Okay, I see that the Aedes albopictus CAN carry the virus. However, in the Caribbean, our little A. aegypti seems to be the main suspect.

Last edited by Nutmeg; 01/26/2016 07:28 AM.

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Nutmeg #83436 01/26/2016 10:05 AM
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CNN article

SXM??? Wendell

SXMWendell #83437 01/28/2016 01:49 PM
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Just saw this in the Boston Globe (from the WHO)

Quote
Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said at a special meeting Thursday in Geneva that the Zika virus — which has been linked to birth defects and neurological problems — was “spreading explosively.”

Chan said although there was no definitive proof that the Zika virus was responsible for a spike in the number of babies being born with abnormally small heads in Brazil, “the level of alarm is extremely high.” She also noted a possible relationship between Zika infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis.

“The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions,” Chan said.

boucharda #83438 01/28/2016 04:28 PM
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France's Health Minister is recommending that pregnant women avoid travel to France's overseas territories due to the Zika outbreak. French Guyana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe are mentioned by name, but St Martin would fall under "other overseas territories".

An article in English:
http://www.thelocal.fr/20160128/zika-virus-frances-pregnant-women-urged-to-avoid-the-caribbean

And one in French:
http://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie...er_1288861.html

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J.D.
GaKaye #83440 01/29/2016 11:10 AM
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"Its effects are very minor in adults."

Perhaps the affects are being understated. Here is a first-hand account in todays NY Post...

http://nypost.com/2016/01/28/first-person-account-of-being-stricken-with-the-zika-virus/

Marcheall #83441 01/29/2016 01:26 PM
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it will be interesting to see if units starting opening up at timeshares. I have an ongoing search at divi that hasnt gotten a hit in over a month. we shall see what the weekend brings! scary stuff

Dansc #83442 01/29/2016 02:38 PM
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Dansc said:
it will be interesting to see if units starting opening up at timeshares. I have an ongoing search at divi that hasnt gotten a hit in over a month. we shall see what the weekend brings! scary stuff


Problem is, even as travelers we are going, getting bit, and bringing the virus back. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sad.gif" alt="" /> That is how it will spread in the US. Then a mosquito here will bite...and so on, and so forth.

Went to a blood drive today and they would not accept me as I had traveled to an area where there have been cases. St Maarten.


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BeachKitten #83443 01/30/2016 07:16 AM
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I heard about the blood drive thing. Wise to be cautious. Last year I didn't get bit once, hope I can repeat that this year.

Dansc #83444 01/30/2016 02:34 PM
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Concerning the Hep A vaccine: once you've contracted Hep A you become immune. You may have contracted and not even known as the symptoms mimic the flu.
The cost to test if you have immunity is more than the vaccine. We opted to get the vaccine as there was no additional risk for double immunity.
You can contact Hep A at home or abroad.

Fivesumwr #83445 01/30/2016 03:39 PM
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...and it is one of the routine vaccinations for children


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