Unfortunately, perfect, empty waves might not be the only thing you catch in Nicaragua. Photo: Salt Shots Surf Photography
Do your summer plans involve chasing good swells or good times anywhere between the Mexican border and Chile? Anywhere in the tropical Pacific? Anywhere in the Caribbean? Attending the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio? If they do, listen up, because Cloudbreak bombs and Brazilian closeouts may not be the only thing you catch.
If you’ve been sitting out this whole Zika virus news cycle, can’t blame you. Who wants to see heartbreaking photos of deformed babies? Plus, maybe you think you’re at no risk of being infected by this mosquito-borne virus.
Well, start paying attention: Surfers and travelers are at greater risk that you might imagine. And not just to themselves or pregnant sexual partners, but to everyone on the planet. We’re not going to make this uncomfortable for you, but read on, dammit, because there are a few things to know!
Zika is all over the place.
The Zika virus is active in all the places listed above. Unfortunately, that means basically anywhere near the Pacific Ocean with a south swell window, all of Brazil, and a ton of other summertime or perennial travel destinations. There’s huge concern over Zika infections during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Ditto for Central America. Sorry, but if you’re contemplating a Nicaraguan tubefest, an El Salvadoran shralp-out or a Mexican whomp-orgy, the risk is real. Hate to say it, but Hawaii, Florida and the Gulf States could soon harbor the disease, too, says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indonesia has had Zika in the past, but doesn’t at the moment.
Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day. As we all know, no amount of repellent, bug netting or bug-proof clothing will stop skeeters. The only surefire way is to avoid skeeter territory.
You can have it and not know it.
If you’re bitten by an Aedes mosquito infected with the virus, you may not know it. Many people experience no symptoms at all. For others, it manifests like a very weak Dengue fever, with fever, rash, joint paint and red eyes. There is no vaccine.
You will spread it to mosquitoes.
Do you want to be responsible for spreading a global pandemic? (That should be a “no.”) You might be if you return home an unwitting carrier of Zika. Picture this scenario: You’re back stateside, fresh off an international surf safari, traces of sunburn still visible. Maybe you’re enjoying a summertime cookout when you enter the crosshairs of a domestic mosquito. If you get bitten, the virus will spread to other mosquitoes who spread it to other poeple who spread it to other mosquitoes. And so on. This is highly possible within a week of infection.
That mosquito could infect a person who never realized they were even at risk — you don’t want to fathom if that person is a pregnant woman.
Think of the children.
Zika is basically a mild fever that poses little risk to anyone besides pregnant woman. However, pregnant woman infected with Zika can bear children with microencephaly, a severe deformity of the brain that can be deadly. If there’s any risk of infection you shouldn’t have any kind of sex — don’t make me list all the different kinds of sex, but yes this includes all of them. Know this: The virus can live inside a man for at least two months, possibly longer but scientists don’t know. Did you hear that? No sex. For months!
If you do travel to any of these places, dress like a total mosquito-dodging doofus. For the sake of humanity!
