Going to Visit Friends or Family in an Area with Zika?

Learn about which countries are affected by Zika.

Here’s what you need to know BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER visiting to keep yourself and your family safe!

When traveling to visit friends or family, think about possible health risks during your trip. If Zika is in the area you are visiting, protect yourself and loved ones from mosquito bites and sexual transmission of Zika.

Learn more about Zika and how to prevent it.

BEFORE Your Trip

Visit your doctor.
Get up-to-date information to learn more about your risk and how to protect yourself.
- Currently there is no vaccine or specific medicine to prevent or treat Zika.

Tip: Before your trip, check CDC Travelers' Health for the latest disease updates for the country you are visiting.

Enjoy your vacation

Pregnant or Planning to Get Pregnant?

This information is for women and their partners. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause birth defects.

Follow these recommendations to protect your pregnancy:

If you are pregnant, do not visit areas with Zika. Learn how to protect yourself from Zika.
Talk to your doctor about your travel plans if you are planning to get pregnant in the near future.
CDC recommends waiting to get pregnant after travel to an area with Zika. For timeframes for both men and women, see “Women Trying to Become Pregnant.”

Pregnant? Read this before you travel

Travelers can protect themselves from Zika

What to Pack

Insect repellent, permethrin, and condoms

Clothing that will protect you from mosquito bites: long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Clothing and gear (boots, pants, socks, and tents) sprayed with permethrin to help protect you from mosquito bites.
Enough insect repellent to last your entire trip for everyone who is traveling. It might be difficult to find the right kind to keep you safe when you’re away from home.
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients listed on CDC’s “Prevent Mosquito Bites” webpage. Always use repellent as directed.
Bed net, if you might be sleeping in a room that is not well screened or air conditioned.
Condoms to protect yourself and your partner since Zika can be spread through sex.

Pack Like a Champ. Pack to Prevent Zika (video)
Spanish: Empaca para prevenir el Zika (video en español)

Pack smart to prevent Zika

Pack a travel health kit to stay safe and healthy abroad.

DURING Your Trip

Protect Yourself and Your Family from Mosquito Bites

Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
- Cover exposed skin with long sleeves and long pants.
- Wear permethrin-treated clothes and gear.
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents during your entire visit.
  - Follow the instructions on the label.
  - If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
Keep mosquitoes outside.
- Stay and sleep in screened-in and air-conditioned rooms when possible.
- Mosquito netting can be used to cover babies younger than 2 months old in carriers, strollers, or cribs to protect them from mosquito bites.

Zika can be passed through sex.

Use condoms during your travel to prevent Zika.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites

Mosquito bite prevention for travelers

Protect your family from Zika: Prevent mosquito bites

Doctor's visit checklist for pregnant women who traveled to an area with Zika

AFTER Your Trip

Continue Protecting Your Loved Ones and Your Community

Continue protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
- Zika virus can be found in a person’s blood after they return from their trip. If a mosquito bites that person then it can spread the virus to other people.
- Even if you do not feel sick, prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after you return.
- This will help prevent your family and neighbors from getting Zika from mosquitoes.
Learn more about the symptoms of Zika.
If you feel sick after returning, go to the doctor.
- Tell your doctor where you have been.
- You and your doctor can decide if you need to be tested for Zika virus.
Protect yourself and your partner during sex, especially if your partner traveled to an area with Zika or if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant.
- All pregnant women with sex partners who live in or have traveled to an area with Zika should use condoms or not have sex during their pregnancy, even if their partners do not have Zika symptoms, or if their symptoms have gone away.
- Wait to try to get pregnant. If you or your partner have been to an area with Zika, talk with your doctor and use condoms in addition to other methods of birth control or do not have sex. See “Women Trying to Become Pregnant” for more information about timeframes.