Zika - Treatment and Prevention
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that US travelers to tropical regions should know about before booking a trip, especially anyone who is pregnant or planning to be.
Zika travel
Zika is a virus spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Most people who get Zika have mild symptoms or none at all, but the virus poses a serious risk to unborn babies when a pregnant person is infected. US travelers heading to tropical and subtropical regions need to understand their risk and take steps to protect themselves before they go.
WayPax Health is a full virtual travel clinic. Real licensed providers review your itinerary, discuss your personal risk, and can issue prescriptions and travel health guidance without you ever setting foot in a clinic.
Get your Zika prescription and other travel medicines online today.How to prevent Zika
There is currently no approved vaccine or preventive medication for Zika. That means prevention depends entirely on avoiding mosquito bites and, in some cases, preventing sexual transmission.
The most important step is using an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or IR3535. Apply it to all exposed skin every time you go outside. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin for added protection. Wear long sleeves and long pants, especially during the day, since Aedes mosquitoes bite most actively during daylight hours. Sleep in air-conditioned rooms or use bed nets if the space is not well screened.
Zika can also spread through sex. According to the CDC, the virus can stay in semen longer than in other body fluids, so using condoms consistently during and after travel is an important layer of protection, especially for travelers with pregnant partners.
Pregnant travelers should avoid destinations with active Zika transmission if possible. If travel cannot be avoided, strict bite prevention and condom use throughout the entire pregnancy are strongly recommended, per NIH guidance. Talk to a travel health provider before you go.
WayPax Health recommendation
There is no vaccine or antiviral medication for Zika, so prevention counseling is the most important thing a traveler can do before heading to a risk area. WayPax providers are travel health specialists who review your full itinerary, assess your personal risk, and give you a personalized plan that covers bite avoidance, condom use, and any other medications relevant to your trip. This matters most for travelers heading to the Caribbean, Central America, or other tropical destinations, and it is especially important for anyone who is pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or traveling with a pregnant partner. WayPax operates entirely online, so you get the same level of care as a traditional travel clinic without leaving home. A real licensed provider will review your plans and make sure you leave fully prepared.
Get your Zika prescription and other travel medicines online today.
What is Zika?
Zika is caused by the Zika virus, a flavivirus (a family of viruses that also includes dengue and yellow fever). It is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, though it can also be transmitted through sex and from a pregnant person to their unborn baby, according to the CDC.
Most people infected with Zika have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild and last about a week. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes (conjunctivitis), muscle pain, and headache, per the WHO. Symptoms typically begin two to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito.
The most serious concern with Zika is its effect on pregnancy. Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly (a condition where a baby's head and brain do not develop fully) and other severe birth defects, a group of outcomes known as congenital Zika syndrome. Research published in NIH-indexed journals confirms that in most adults the infection resolves on its own within a week, but the risks to a developing baby are far more serious and long-lasting.
Where is Zika a risk?
Zika circulates in tropical and subtropical regions around the world where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are present. The virus has been reported across a wide band of the globe, including parts of the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Transmission risk is generally highest in areas with warm, humid climates year-round, since these conditions support large mosquito populations, according to the CDC's areas-at-risk map.
In the Americas, Zika has been documented across much of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Transmission in these regions can occur throughout the year, though risk may be higher during and after rainy seasons when mosquito populations increase. The Pacific Islands, including parts of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, have also experienced Zika transmission. Parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia carry ongoing risk as well.
The CDC uses a four-tier classification system to describe Zika risk by location, ranging from areas with active outbreaks and Travel Health Notices to areas where the mosquito that spreads Zika is present but no cases have been reported. Travelers should check the CDC Travel Health Notices page before departure to get the most current information for their specific destination.
Treatment: what to do if you get Zika
There is no specific antiviral treatment for Zika. According to NIH-indexed research, the infection is usually self-limited, meaning it clears on its own within about a week. Supportive care, which means rest, staying well hydrated, and taking acetaminophen for fever or pain, is the standard approach. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin until dengue has been ruled out, since those medications can increase bleeding risk if dengue is the actual cause.
Seek medical care promptly if you develop a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, or any neurological symptoms such as weakness or confusion. Pregnant travelers who develop any symptoms after visiting a risk area should contact a healthcare provider right away, even if symptoms seem mild. A provider can order testing and help you understand next steps based on your situation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the symptoms of Zika for travelers?
Most travelers who get Zika have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they usually include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, and headache. Symptoms are typically mild and go away on their own within a week. The bigger concern is for pregnant travelers, since Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.
Where is Zika still a risk for US travelers?
Zika remains a risk in many tropical and subtropical destinations popular with US travelers, including parts of the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Risk levels vary by location and can change over time. Always check the CDC's current travel health notices before your trip to get the latest information for your specific destination.
How can I prevent Zika when I travel?
Since there is no vaccine for Zika, prevention means avoiding mosquito bites. Use an EPA-registered repellent with DEET or picaridin on all exposed skin, wear long sleeves and pants, and sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms. Using condoms during and after travel also helps prevent sexual transmission, especially if your partner is pregnant.
Can Zika affect pregnancy while traveling?
Yes, and this is the most serious risk associated with Zika. Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe birth defects in the baby. The CDC recommends that pregnant travelers avoid destinations with active Zika transmission if possible. If travel cannot be avoided, strict mosquito bite prevention and condom use throughout the entire pregnancy are strongly advised. Talk to a travel health provider before you go.
How is Zika treated if I get sick abroad?
There is no specific antiviral drug for Zika. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms with rest, fluids, and acetaminophen for fever or pain. Most people recover fully within a week without any special medical intervention. If you are pregnant or develop severe symptoms, seek medical care right away rather than waiting to see if things improve on their own.
Should I check a Zika map before I travel?
Yes. The CDC maintains an up-to-date map of countries and territories with known Zika risk, organized by risk category. Checking this map before you book or depart helps you understand what precautions you need to take. You can find the latest information on the CDC's Travel Health Notices page and the CDC areas-at-risk page for Zika.
What countries have Zika right now?
Zika is present in many countries across the Caribbean, Central and South America, parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The specific list changes over time as outbreaks emerge or fade. The CDC updates its Zika geographic risk classifications regularly. WayPax Health providers can review your exact itinerary and give you a current, personalized risk assessment entirely online, without a clinic visit.
Explore by region
Caribbean
Central America
South America
Southeast Asia and Pacific
Africa
Related diseases
- Dengue: another Aedes mosquito-borne virus found in many of the same tropical regions as Zika.
- Chikungunya: a mosquito-borne virus with overlapping geographic risk and similar symptoms to Zika.
- Malaria: a serious mosquito-borne disease present across many tropical destinations where Zika also circulates.
- Yellow fever: a mosquito-borne illness endemic to parts of South America and Africa that share Zika risk zones.
- Japanese encephalitis: a mosquito-borne virus relevant to travelers visiting parts of Southeast Asia where Zika is also present.
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