Eating Bad Street Food was Worse than Zika

As a missionary serving in Brazil, it is a bit disturbing to have Zika called the next Ebola. Yes, Zika is happening in Brazil. Yes, it is important to understand and pray for. No, it is not time to freak out: bad street food is definitely worse than Zika. 

Caid got Zika soon after we moved to Brazil last year. He had red bumps and felt fatigued. After comparing with pictures on the Internet, I diagnosed him with heat rash: take cold showers, stay out of the sun, and rest more. That same week, some Brazilian friends got the same red bumps. By the next week when I got Zika, the first internet articles about it (in Portuguese) started popping up. I was just relieved it wasn’t heat stroke, because it is really hard to stay out of the sun in Brazil. Caid and I were back to normal after a couple of days. 

There are actually two “new” mosquito viruses going around Brazil: Zika and Chikungunya  . Chikungunya is said to have higher fever, which we didn’t have, so I am assuming we had Zika (bloodwork is really the only way we could have known). We didn't go to the doctor since there isn't any medicine for it: it is like a mild flu that you ignore until the sniffles go away three days later. Most of the people we know in Brazil self-diagnose it as Chikungunya, rather than Zika, when the red bumps and fever come around. So many of the Living Stones kids had it that sometimes I began to wonder if it was just a way to get out of school. 

It was not until months later that they began to connect Zika with Microcephaly. Considering I was 8 months pregnant when I had Zika, I am glad I didn’t know to worry at the time. The truth is, the main problem is we don’t know the connection—or what to do about it . The same thing is true with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) . We are in limbo, waiting to find out. 

This past month Zika has become a household name, and some are falling prey to fear. Scary stuff happens, and it is important to be wise and knowledgeable on what is going on.  This is what we can agree on: don't go to Brazil if you are in your first trimester. Try not to get pregnant if you are in Brazil until more information is found out.  

If you are not pregnant, and feel God leading you on a short term mission’s trip to Brazil, don't let fear stop you. Realize that for most Brazilians, leaving is not an option and life goes on. Some Brazilian friends of mine just announced their pregnancy last week. Like all pregnancies, we are excited for them, and will keep their baby’s health in our prayers.  Also, stay away from bad street food—It is worse than Zika. 

*Pictures are not mine (from Google)