What it's like living with the daily threat of Zika in Bogota, Colombia

by Lauren Abbott

From her home in Bogota in Colombia Vicki Kellaway from Maidstone, describes what it is like living in a country coping with a major outbreak of the Zika virus

Tropical illnesses are part of life in the tropics. It’s a risk you have to take if you want to live in or visit the most beautiful places on Earth, whether that means exploring the rainforests or lazing on the white sandy beaches.

I’m sure gap year students, backpackers and holidaymakers have all considered the risk of illnesses like dengue and the same rules apply here.

The best way to protect yourself is to cover up at dawn and dusk, use repellent and sleep under a mosquito net.

His mother, father and brother had it too. My partner laid in bed for three days, sweating and shivering with red dots on his skin and aching joints. It was another two days before he felt normal again.

It was horrible but, then again, I’ve seen people with worse flu in England.

There are some frightening differences with Zika though. The main one is obviously the effect it is said to have on pregnancy. The information we’re receiving changes every day but, if I were a pregnant woman or planning to try for a baby in the immediate future, I wouldn’t travel to Colombia or any of the infected countries. Why take the risk?

Journalist Vicki Kellaway and partner
Journalist Vicki Kellaway and partner
Sprawling Bogota is the capital of Colombia
Sprawling Bogota is the capital of Colombia

The current advice is that Bogota is safe, but if you’re coming all the way to Colombia you’ll want to see the most interesting and diverse parts of the country and, unfortunately, many of those have Zika.

Bogota is a high altitude city. We’re nestled in the Andes mountains at 2,600m above sea level and the advice so far is that the mosquitoes that carry Zika aren’t present at this altitude. My friends who are already pregnant are avoiding travelling outside the city.

Perhaps some of them may choose to return to their home countries for the duration of their pregnancies.

Others who are thinking about trying for babies are more worried, especially because doctors say you can have Zika without realising it. I guess that’s reassuring for the average holidaymaker because it puts the effects of the illness on an ordinary person into perspective, but it’s horrendous for a potential mum-to-be.

At the moment, I’m not too worried. We’re getting married in December and then we’ll start to think about our plans for a family. Hopefully by then there will be more information and we can make decisions.

I would prefer not to return to England. Our home is in Colombia and our careers too.

Zika cannot be prevented by medications or vaccines
Zika cannot be prevented by medications or vaccines

But I am a cautious person and I know we’ll make a sensible decision. Life is unpredictable enough, I don’t believe in unnecessary risks.

Truth be told, I can’t stop thinking about those who live in the infected zones. Cancelling a holiday or confining yourself to a safe city is an annoyance but being told your unborn baby’s health is at risk and there is little you can do about it?

It’s a horror I can’t imagine.

'Telling people to avoid having babies for years to come just doesn’t seem practical to me'

Many of the men and women in those areas lack financial resources and access to decent healthcare and up-to-date information.

I know there is already some confusion about which mosquito repellents are safe for pregnant women.

Telling people to avoid having babies for years to come just doesn’t seem practical to me.

My heart goes out to anyone in those areas who is pregnant or hopes to have a baby. I hope we can find a way out of this soon."

Vicki writes about Colombia through her award winning travel blog Banana Skin Flipflops.

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