Mosquitoes can spread many diseases, including Zika. Although most people with Zika won’t have symptoms, infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Learn how to protect yourself and your family from Zika.

Zika virus spreads primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito (Aedes aegypti or Ae. albopictus). Zika can also be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners. Although most people with Zika won’t have symptoms, infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other serious birth defects in babies.

The mosquitoes that carry Zika can be found in many countries, and outbreaks of Zika are still occurring in parts of the world. Everyone can take steps to protect themselves and pregnant women in the United States.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Zika

Many people infected with Zika virus won’t know they have it because they won’t have symptoms. Symptoms are usually mild and can last for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. The most common symptoms of Zika include

• Fever
• Rash
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
• Muscle pain

See your doctor or other healthcare provider if you have the symptoms described above and have visited an area with risk of Zika. This is especially important if you are pregnant. Be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare provider where you traveled. Even if you do not feel sick, you should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after travel so you do not spread Zika to uninfected mosquitoes.

Zika Can Cause Birth Defects

Zika infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly (a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age) and other birth defects. Because of the risk for birth defects, pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. Pregnant women who travel to or live in areas with risk of Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites and use condoms or not have sex during their pregnancy to avoid getting Zika from their partner.

Women and their partners thinking about pregnancy should talk to a healthcare provider before traveling to areas with risk of Zika. If a couple decides to travel to an area with risk of Zika, they should consider waiting to get pregnant. If the couple travels together or only the male partner travels, they should consider using condoms or not having sex for at least 3 months after travel. If only the female partner travels, the couple should consider waiting at least 2 months after travel.

Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Community from Zika

There is no vaccine to protect against Zika. If you’re traveling to an area with risk of Zika, the best way to prevent Zika is to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission of Zika during and after travel.

Take these steps to prevent mosquito bites

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Make sure to check for and fix any holes in screens.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
  • When used as directed, these insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
    • Always follow the product label instructions.
    • Reapply insect repellent as directed.
    • Do not spray repellent on skin under clothing. Put on clothing first, and then apply repellent to any exposed skin.
    • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated items.
  • Treated clothing can protect after multiple washings. See the product’s information to learn how long the protection will last.
  • If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
  • Do NOT use permethrin products directly on skin. They are intended to treat clothing.

Even if you do not feel sick, travelers returning from an area with risk of Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks so they do not pass Zika to mosquitoes that could then spread the virus to other people.

If you have a baby or child:

• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
• Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover cribs, strollers, and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
• Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, or cut or irritated skin.
• Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to your child’s face.

Prevent mosquito bites even after you return from traveling to areas with Zika. If you get infected, even if you don’t get sick, Zika virus can be found in your blood and passed to mosquitoes through mosquito bites. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people.

Zika virus infection is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Zika virus can also be spread from a pregnant mother to her child and through sexual contact with an affected partner. Cases of Zika virus transmission via blood transfusion have also been reported. Zika virus outbreaks are currently occurring in many countries. The illness associated with Zika virus infection is usually mild, with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). However, research has suggested an association between Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in a small percentage of cases.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes, including microcephaly and other serious brain defects. The full range of health problems associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy is currently being studied. No vaccine currently exists to prevent Zika virus infection, but there are still ways to protect oneself. The CDC recommends that pregnant women consider postponing travel to Zika-affected areas. People living in or traveling to areas where Zika virus is found should take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Those who have traveled to Zika-affected areas may wish to take steps to prevent sexual transmission of the Zika virus.

Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and through sex with a person who is infected with Zika. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease (or Zika) are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Many people with Zika won’t have symptoms so they may not know they are infected. For those who do have symptoms, the illness is usually mild and can last for several days to a week. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, and deaths are rare. The Aedes mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world.

Key Facts

• Zika is spread to people primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).
• There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Travelers to areas with Zika should prevent mosquito bites.
• Pregnant women should not travel to areas with a Zika outbreak. Before travel to areas with risk of Zika, pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should talk with their doctors or other healthcare providers and carefully consider risks and possible consequences of travel.
• Many people infected with Zika virus do not get sick. The illness is usually mild, lasting from several days to a week.
• Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

Aedes Mosquito

Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite during the day and at night. The mosquitoes that spread Zika also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Geographic Distribution of Zika

Check CDC’s Zika Travel Information webpage often for the most up-to-date travel recommendations.

Travelers Should Prevent Mosquito Bites and Sexual Transmission

Travelers who go to areas with Zika are at risk of being infected with Zika virus. Travelers may also be at risk of being infected with dengue or chikungunya virus. There is no vaccine available for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika is to prevent mosquito bites. To prevent spreading Zika to others, protect against mosquito bites and sexual transmission for 3 weeks after returning from travel.

Sexual Transmission

Pregnant women should not travel to areas with a Zika outbreak. Before travel to areas with risk of Zika, pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should talk with their doctors or other healthcare providers and carefully consider risks and possible consequences of travel.

Zika and Pregnancy

Pregnant women should not travel to areas with a Zika outbreak. Before travel to areas with risk of Zika, pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should talk with their doctors or other healthcare providers and carefully consider risks and possible consequences of travel.

Prevention Tips

• Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2 undecanone. Always use as directed.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated items.*
• Pregnant women should not travel to areas with a Zika outbreak. Before travel to areas with risk of Zika, pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should talk with their doctors or other healthcare providers and carefully consider risks and possible consequences of travel.
• Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex.

*In some places, such as Puerto Rico, where permethrin products have been used for years in mosquito control efforts, mosquitoes have become resistant to it. In areas with high levels of resistance, use of permethrin is not likely to be effective.

Zika is a virus spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

What we know

• Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant person to their fetus.
• Infection during pregnancy can cause serious brain and eye defects. It may also cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities like
  • problems with hearing and vision
  • joints with limited range of motion
  • seizures
  • too much muscle tone, restricting body movement
  • swallowing abnormalities
  • possible developmental delay
• Zika primarily spreads through bites from infected mosquitoes. You can also get Zika through sex without a condom with someone infected by Zika, even if that person does not have symptoms of Zika.
• There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.
• People who are pregnant should not travel to areas with a Zika outbreak (as indicated by red on the Zika map). Before travel to other areas with risk of Zika (as indicated by purple on the Zika map), people considering pregnancy should talk with their doctors or other healthcare providers and carefully consider risks and possible consequences of travel.

What we have learned about Zika and pregnancy

When the Zika outbreak began, there were many unknowns. Since then, we have learned a lot about Zika virus infection during pregnancy because of the rich data that were collected. CDC worked with health departments to set up systems to collect information about people exposed to Zika during pregnancy and their babies after birth. This helped us to answer many questions about how Zika virus can affect babies.

• How does Zika affect pregnancies?
  Certain types of birth defects can happen from Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Several brain and eye defects were more commonly reported.
• How often do babies have birth defects if their mothers had Zika while pregnant?
  About 5% of babies born to people with Zika while pregnant had Zika-associated birth defects. Additionally, some babies affected by Zika during pregnancy might look healthy at birth but can develop long-term health problems as they grow.
• When during pregnancy does Zika cause harm to the baby?
  Infection during early pregnancy may be more likely to cause birth defects, but we have seen babies with birth defects born to people infected with Zika anytime during pregnancy.
• If a pregnant person has Zika symptoms, is her baby more likely to have birth defects?
  We found a similar frequency of birth defects between mothers with and without Zika symptoms.
• Are babies getting the care they need?
  Many babies exposed to Zika in pregnancy were not reported receiving the recommended examinations (physical and developmental exam, brain imaging, hearing test, eye exam) during their first year of life.

What we do not know

• How likely it is that a Zika infection will affect your pregnancy.
• If your baby will have birth defects if you are infected while pregnant.
• The full range of health effects that Zika during pregnancy might lead to.

CDC recommends you take special precautions if you are pregnant to protect yourself from Zika virus infection.

Because Zika during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects, if you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks (as indicated by red areas on the Zika map). Before travel to other areas with risk of Zika (as indicated by purple areas on the Zika map), you should talk to a healthcare provider and carefully consider the potential risks of Zika and other infectious diseases.

The only way to completely prevent Zika infection during pregnancy is to not travel to areas with risk of Zika and to use precautions or avoid sex with someone who has recently traveled to a risk area.

We do not have accurate information on the current level of risk in specific areas. The large outbreak in the Americas is over, but Zika is and will continue to be a potential risk in many countries in the Americas and around the world. No local spread of Zika virus has been reported in the continental United States since 2017.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. If you are considering travel to an area with risk of Zika, talk to your health care provider first. It is important to understand the risks of Zika infection during pregnancy, ways to protect yourself, signs of Zika, and the limitations of Zika testing upon your return.

Factors to Consider If You Travel to or Live in an Area with a Zika Outbreak (red areas on the Zika map) or Other Areas with Risk of Zika (purple areas on the Zika map)

During travel or while living in an area with risk of Zika

• Protective measures:
  • Prevent mosquito bites by using EPA-registered insect repellents and covering skin.
  • Prevent getting Zika infection through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex during your pregnancy.

• Accommodations: Stay in places with air conditioning, with window and door screens, or sleep under a mosquito bed net.
• Type and length of exposure: For extended stays, there are steps you can take to control mosquitoes inside and outside, like removing standing water. It’s important for all travelers, including those visiting friends and relatives and those with extended stays, to protect themselves against Zika infection and other mosquito-borne illnesses during the entire visit.

After travel

• After any travel outside the United States during pregnancy, it is important to tell your doctor or health care provider about your travel because of the potential risk of various infectious diseases.
• If you or your partner travel to an area with a Zika outbreak or other areas with risk of Zika:
  • Be alert for symptoms of Zika, including headache, rash, joint pain, red eyes.
  • Take steps to prevent getting Zika through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex during your entire pregnancy.

Risk of Zika Infection on Future Pregnancies

Current evidence suggests that Zika infection prior to pregnancy would not pose a risk of birth defects to a future pregnancy. From what we know about similar infections, once a person has been infected with Zika virus, they are likely to be protected from a future Zika infection. Currently, we do not have a test to tell if someone is protected against Zika virus.

If you’re thinking about having a baby in the near future and you or your partner live in or traveled to an area with a Zika outbreak (red areas on the Zika map) or an area with risk of Zika (purple areas on Zika map), talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider.

CDC recommends people thinking about pregnancy take precautions to protect themselves from Zika.

• Check CDC’s travel website for areas with risk of Zika.
• Talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before traveling to areas with a Zika outbreak (as indicated by red areas on the Zika map) or other areas with risk of Zika (as indicated by purple areas on the Zika map) and take steps to plan for travel.
• Take steps to prevent mosquito bites and prevent sexual transmission.

Considerations for People Planning to Conceive and Planning to Travel to an Area with a Zika Outbreak (As Indicated by Red Areas on the Zika Map) or Other Areas with Risk of Zika (As Indicated by Purple Areas on the Zika Map)

CDC recommends people trying to become pregnant work with their healthcare providers to carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to areas with a Zika outbreak or other areas with risk of Zika. Consider waiting to get pregnant according to the timeframes below:

The timeframes that males and females should consider waiting are different because Zika can be found in semen longer than in other body fluids.

Decisions about pregnancy planning are personal and complex, and circumstances will vary for people trying to conceive. People should discuss pregnancy planning with a trusted doctor or healthcare provider.

Planning considerations include:

• their reproductive life plans, including pregnancy intentions and timing of pregnancy
• their potential exposures to Zika during pregnancy and the health risks and potential consequences of infection
• individual circumstances and level of risk tolerance

If You Have Ongoing Exposure (for Example, Live in or Frequently Travel) to An Area with a Zika Outbreak (As Indicated by Red Areas on the Zika Map) or Other Areas with Risk of Zika (As Indicated by Purple Areas on the Zika Map)

• Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
• Because of your ongoing exposure to Zika, talk with your healthcare provider about your plans for pregnancy, your risk of Zika, the possible health effects of Zika infection on a baby, and ways to protect yourself from Zika.
• If you or your partner develop symptoms of Zika or test positive for Zika, you should follow the suggested timeframes above before trying to conceive.

As a result of counseling with healthcare providers, people with ongoing exposure to areas with a Zika outbreak or other areas with risk of Zika might decide to delay pregnancy.

As the parent of a new baby who may have been affected by Zika virus during pregnancy, you and your family may be worried and unsure of the next steps in caring for your baby. Because we are still learning about the long-term effects of Zika infection during pregnancy, it is important that parents work with their child’s doctors to manage the medical care of their baby.

What We Know

• Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects in babies, but not every person infected with Zika during pregnancy will have a baby with a related health condition at birth.
• Children affected by Zika may have lasting special needs. Acting early to get services could make a difference.

Zika and Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth.

Congenital Zika Syndrome

Congenital Zika syndrome is a unique pattern of birth defects and disabilities found among fetuses and babies infected with Zika virus during pregnancy. Although many of the features seen as part of congenital Zika syndrome can be caused by other infections during pregnancy, there is often a pattern of the features below that has been termed congenital Zika syndrome:

• Severe microcephaly where the skull has partially collapsed
• Decreased brain tissue with a specific pattern of brain damage
• Damage (i.e., scarring, pigment changes) to the back of the eye
• Joints with limited range of motion, such as clubfoot
• Too much muscle tone restricting body movement soon after birth

Babies who were infected with Zika before birth may have damage to their eyes and/or the part of their brain that is responsible for vision, which may affect their visual development. Both babies with and without microcephaly can have eye problems. If your baby was born with congenital Zika infection, he or she should receive the recommended screenings and tests to check for eye and other health problems, even if your baby appears healthy.

A recent study in Brazil found that at 19-24 months, babies with congenital Zika virus infection exhibited challenges with sitting independently, feeding, and sleeping. The babies also experienced seizures and hearing and vision problems, such as not responding to the sound of a rattle and not being able to follow a moving object with their eyes. It is important to note that babies affected by Zika virus will continue to require specialized care from many types of healthcare providers and caregivers as they age.

Not all babies born with congenital Zika infection will have all of these problems. Some infants with congenital Zika virus infection who do not have microcephaly at birth may later experience slowed head growth and develop postnatal microcephaly.

Recognizing that Zika is a cause of certain birth defects does not mean that every pregnant woman infected with Zika will have a baby with a birth defect. It means that infection with Zika during pregnancy increases the chances for these problems. Scientists continue to study how Zika virus affects mothers and their children to better understand the full range of potential health problems that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.

Future Pregnancies

Based on the available evidence, we think that Zika virus infection in a woman who is not pregnant would not pose a risk for birth defects in future pregnancies after the virus has cleared from her blood. From what we know about similar infections, once a person has been infected with Zika virus, he or she is likely to be protected from a future Zika infection.

About Zika

Many people infected with Zika virus do not get sick or only have mild symptoms. However, infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects.

Zika is still a problem in many parts of the world. Because there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika, travelers should take steps to prevent getting Zika during travel. They should also take steps to prevent spreading it when they return home.

See Zika Travel Information for information on countries and territories with Zika.

How is Zika virus spread?

Zika can spread several ways, including:

1. Through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.
2. From a pregnant woman to her developing fetus, or at the time of birth, if the mother is infected with Zika during pregnancy.
3. Through sex with a person who is infected with Zika. Zika can be sexually transmitted from an infected man or woman. But Zika can stay in a man’s semen longer than in a woman’s body fluids. Zika can stay in a man’s semen for months after infection and be transmitted through sex during that time.

Even if people with Zika do not have symptoms, they can still spread the virus.

What can travelers do to prevent Zika?

• Pregnant women should NOT travel to areas with Zika outbreaks (red areas on the map). This is because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.
• Before travel to other areas with risk of Zika (purple areas on the map), pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy in the next 3 months should discuss their travel plans with their health care provider and carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to these areas.These areas have a potential risk of Zika, but we do not have accurate information on the current level of risk. As a result, detection and reporting of new outbreaks may be delayed.
• All travelersto areas with risk of Zika should (1) prevent mosquito bites and (2) use condoms or not have sex to protect against Zika during travel. They should continue to take these precautions after their trip to stop the spread of Zika to others back home. See more information below.

Special Precautions for Specific Groups

CDC recommends special precautions for (1) pregnant women, (2) the partners of pregnant women, and (3) those considering pregnancy:

1. Pregnant women

• Do NOT travel to areas with Zika outbreaks (red areas on the map) because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.
• Before travel to other areas with risk of Zika (purple areas on the map), discuss your travel plans with your health care provider. Carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to these areas. In deciding whether to travel, consider the destination, your reasons for traveling, your feelings about the potential risks, and your ability to prevent mosquito bites.
• If you must travel:
  • Strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during travel and for 3 weeks after your return.
  • Strictly follow steps to prevent sexual transmission during your trip.
  • See your health care provider after your return for routine prenatal care and if you experience any symptoms of Zika infection.
  • Tell your health care provider at each prenatal care visit about any travel and about possible Zika exposure.
• If your partner travels (to red or purple areas on the map):
  • Use condoms every time you have sex—or do not have sex—for the rest of the pregnancy, even if your partner does not have symptoms or feel sick.

2. Travelers to red or purple areas on the map who have a pregnant partner

• Strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during travel and for 3 weeks after your return.
• Use condoms every time you have sex—or do not have sex— for the rest of the pregnancy, even if you do not have symptoms or feel sick.

3. Travelers to red or purple areas on the map considering pregnancy

• Talk to your health care provider about your pregnancy plans and possible Zika risk before travel.
• Strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during travel and for 3 weeks after your return.
• If you’re a couple traveling together or a man traveling without your partner: Wait at least 3 months after you return (or from the start of symptoms, if the man develops symptoms) before trying to conceive. During that time, use condoms or do not have sex to prevent passing Zika to your partner.
• If you’re a woman (and your male partner does not travel): Wait at least 2 months after you return (or from the start of symptoms, if you develop symptoms) before trying to conceive. During that time, use condoms or do not have sex to prevent passing Zika to your partner.

Men are advised to wait longer because Zika can stay in semen longer than in other body fluids and can be spread to partners during that time.

During Travel: Protect Yourself

• Prevent mosquito bites:
  • Use EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. Always use as directed.
  • Cover exposed skin: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
  • Stay in places with air conditioning or with window and door screens, or sleep under a mosquito bed net.
  • For extended stays take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside, such as removing standing water. [See more]
• Prevent sexual transmission:
  • Use condoms every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex—or do not have sex—if you are concerned about getting or passing Zika through sex. This is especially important if you or your partner is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. [See more]

After Travel: Protect Others

• Continue using mosquito repellent for 3 weeks after your return, even if you do not feel sick. This will help prevent spreading Zika to uninfected mosquitoes that can spread the virus to other people.
• To protect your partners, use condoms—or do not have sex—for at least 3 months after travel if you are a man, and for at least 2 months after travel if you are a woman. If you and your partner travel together, use condoms for at least 3 months after your return. If your partner is pregnant, use condoms for the rest of her pregnancy.

If you feel sick and think you may have Zika

• Talk to your health care provider if you develop common symptoms of Zika, including fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, or muscle pain.
• Tell your health care provider where you traveled.
• Take medicine, such as acetaminophen, to reduce fever and pain.
• Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, until your health care provider is sure you don't have dengue. Dengue is another disease transmitted by mosquitoes that causes symptoms similar to Zika and can cause internal bleeding.
• If you are taking medicine for another condition or if you are pregnant, talk to your health care provider before taking additional medicines.
• A blood or urine test can identify Zika infection. For more about testing, see CDC Testing Recommendations.