After Your Trip

How to prevent the spread of Zika after your trip

Even if you do not feel sick, you should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after visiting an area with Zika so that you do not spread Zika to the mosquitoes in your area. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. Remember that many people infected with Zika virus do not feel sick, so all travelers who have been to areas with Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks.

Zika can be spread through sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing of sex toys). Because of the risk of severe birth defects from Zika infection if a woman is infected during pregnancy, people who have traveled to an area with Zika who have pregnant partners should either use condoms or not have sex during the entire pregnancy.

For couples who are considering pregnancy, see “Women Trying to Become Pregnant” for time frames on how long to wait after travel. Travelers who are not pregnant or trying to become pregnant should also use condoms for the same time periods so they do not spread Zika to their sex partners.

If you are a pregnant woman returning from an area with Zika or have had a possible sexual exposure, you should be offered testing for Zika. If you develop a fever with a rash, joint pain, or red eyes, talk to your health care provider immediately and tell him or her about your travel or possible sexual exposure. If you do not have symptoms, testing should be offered, up to 12 weeks after you return from travel or your last possible sexual exposure.

For more information on Zika and travel, visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information

Watch your health after any trip

If you are not feeling well, you should see a doctor and mention that you have recently traveled.

You may wish to consult with an infectious disease doctor or travel medicine doctor. Most doctors who specialize in the diseases of travel are infectious diseases (ID) physicians. To find a list of private doctors who specialize in travel health, consult the directories located at: http://www.astmh.org (American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - ASTMH) or http://www.istm.org (International Society of Travel Medicine - ISTM). CDC provides these directories as a courtesy to the public but does not endorse any health-care provider.

If you have visited a malaria-risk area:

It is very important that you continue taking your antimalarial drug for 4 weeks (if you are taking doxycycline or mefloquine) or seven days (if you are taking atovaquone/proguanil) after leaving the risk area.
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician your travel history.