re: Punta Cana - Anyone know how bad the Zika Virus is down there?

Per the CDC website

quote:

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A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. CDC recommends special precautions for the following groups:
Women who are pregnant:
Should not travel to any area of Dominican Republic below 6,500 feet (see map).
If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip. If your itinerary is limited entirely to areas above 6,500 feet, there is minimal risk of getting Zika from a mosquito.

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Ask yourself..."are we really gonna enjoy this trip, or be obsessed about preventing mosquito bites the entire time?"


If I was the one pregnant...I would just not go. Not worth it imo.

ETA: I realize Zika has already been found in the United States(parts of Texas and Florida). I don't think things are in "outbreak mode" and the Zika hysteria has died down in the media. That said....the one group of people that should avoid Zika areas are pregnant women. Doctors still have no idea exactly why Zika causes microcephaly or why some pregnant women with Zika don't have babies with the birth defect and others do.

Because so much is still unknown, I don't think it's going overboard for a pregnant woman to err on the side of caution. It's just a vacation that can be rescheduled another time. And really....how much will your wife enjoy the trip if she has Zika on the brain the entire time?