Zika

[zee ka]

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 delay travelnot travel to areas with Zika.
Most 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.

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 Zika.

*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.