Zika: 8 Fast Facts

Zika: 8 Fast Facts

What do you need to know about Zika? Check out these eight fast facts from CDC so you can better protect yourself and your family from Zika.

All pregnant women in the United States should be assessed for possible Zika virus exposure and signs or symptoms of Zika during each prenatal care visit. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other symptoms could include muscle pain and headache. Zika virus may be passed through sex by a person who carries the virus but never develops symptoms. A person with Zika virus can pass it to his or her sex partners during vaginal, anal, or oral sex or by sharing sex toys. There are currently no reports of transmission of Zika virus infection through breastfeeding. However, Zika has been detected in breast milk. For women and men who have been diagnosed with Zika virus disease or who have symptoms of Zika after possible exposure to the virus, CDC recommends that women wait at least 8 weeks after their symptoms first appeared before trying to get pregnant and that men wait at least 6 months before trying to get their partner pregnant. In addition to microcephaly, doctors have found other problems in pregnancies and among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, absent or poorly developed brain structures, defects of the eye, hearing deficits, and impaired growth. Researchers are collecting data to better understand the extent of Zika virus’ impact on mothers and their children. CDC established a U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry and is collaborating with state health departments and other organizations to collect information on pregnancy and infant outcomes associated with Zika among pregnant women. Share these facts with friends, family, and coworkers. For more information about Zika, please visit cdc.gov/PreventZika.