Right now, some places are safer.
Pregnant women should protect themselves from mosquitoes and the Zika virus. It may cause your baby not to develop properly and have a smaller than normal head.
Check out CDC’s Traveler’s Health trip planner before you head out the door for up-to-date travel health notices.
Zika Virus
For pregnant women or women thinking about becoming pregnant:
- It is best to put off travel to places where you should be more careful. If you must go, see your doctor or health care provider first and avoid mosquito bites.
- If you become pregnant after the Zika virus is out of your system, your baby will not be infected.
- If pregnant and infected, the Zika virus may cause your baby not to develop properly and have a smaller than normal head. Babies you have in the future will not be infected.
Where should I be more careful?
- Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Samoa, Cape Verde, US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, American Samoa, Costa Rica and Nicaragua have mosquitoes still spreading the Zika virus.
How can I protect me and my family?
- It is mostly spread through mosquito bites, but can also spread by blood, sex, or from pregnant mom to baby.
- Avoid mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, using indoor screens and bed nets and emptying standing water near you.
- There are no vaccines or medications to prevent Zika virus.
What are the symptoms?
- Not everyone with the Zika virus has symptoms, but the most common symptoms are mild fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and headache. For those with symptoms, it usually lasts for about a week.
- There are no medications for treatment at this time.
Keep in mind that if you’ve traveled outside of the US recently and think you may have the virus, it is best to see your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible for testing.
Talk to your doctor or health care provider for more information.
Check out CDC’s TravWell app (free) for up-to-date travel alerts, emergency phone numbers, recommendations, pre-travel care clinics and checklists to keep you and your family safe at your next destination.
Call 800 – CDC – INFO (478 – 5868) or email for more free up-to-date information.
Sources:
– Questions and Answers: Zika virus infection (Zika) and pregnancy. Center for disease control and prevention web site. 1.usa.gov/23g0hQ4. Updated January 20, 2016. Accessed January 20, 2016.
– Transmission. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site. 1.usa.gov/1OxSOUR. Updated January 15, 2016. Accessed January 20, 2016.
– Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site. 1.usa.gov/1PGj5hs. Updated January 15, 2016. Accessed January 20, 2016.
– Travel Health Notices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site. 1.usa.gov/1pYUnkr Updated January 22, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2016.
Updated January 27, 2016