Zika Virus Disease during Pregnancy

Zika virus disease, or Zika, is an illness that can spread to people through bites from mosquitoes that carry the virus. It may also spread from person to person through infected body fluids.

Mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus are common in warm and moist areas of the world. The locations of Zika outbreaks change from time to time.

How does this affect me?

Most people who become infected with Zika virus do not develop serious illness. If symptoms appear, they usually start about a week after the person is infected. Symptoms are usually mild. They may include:

• Fever.
• Rash.
• Red eyes.
• Joint and muscle pain.

A pregnant woman who becomes infected with Zika virus disease may pass the virus on to her baby before or during birth.

How does this affect my baby?

A baby who is born to a woman with Zika virus is at risk of having a condition in which a baby’s brain or head is smaller than expected (microcephaly). Babies who have this condition can have seizures, developmental delays, or hearing and vision problems.

Having Zika virus disease during pregnancy can also increase the risk of other serious brain defects in the baby and losing the pregnancy (miscarriage).

What can I do to lower my risk?

There is no vaccine to prevent Zika. The best way to prevent the disease is to avoid infected mosquitoes and exposure to body fluids that can spread the virus.

Prevent mosquito bites

Take these steps to avoid mosquito bites when you are in a high-risk area:

• Wear loose clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Limit your outdoor activities.
• Do not open windows unless they have window screens.
• Sleep under mosquito nets.
• Use insect repellent. These are safe to use during pregnancy. The best insect repellents have:
  • DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), 2-undecanone, or IR3535 in them.
  • Higher amounts of an active ingredient in them.
• Do not apply insect repellent underneath clothing.
• If you are using sunscreen, apply the sunscreen before applying the insect repellent.
• Treat clothing with permethrin. Do not apply permethrin directly to your skin. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe use.
• Get rid of standing water, where mosquitoes may reproduce. Standing water is often found outside in items such as buckets, bowls, animal food dishes, and flower pots.

Travel

• Avoid traveling to high-risk areas. The locations of Zika outbreaks change from time to time. To identify high-risk areas, check the CDC travel website: www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html  
• If you or your sex partner must travel to a high-risk area, talk with a health care provider before and after traveling.
• Get tested for Zika virus after traveling to a high-risk area.
• Take all precautions to avoid mosquito bites if you live in, or travel to, any of the high-risk areas.
• When you return from traveling to any high-risk area, continue taking actions to protect yourself against mosquito bites for 3 weeks, even if you show no signs of illness. This will prevent spreading Zika virus to uninfected mosquitoes.

Sexual contact

People can spread Zika to their sexual partners during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or by sharing sexual devices.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant:

• Avoid sexual contact with:
  • Persons who may have been exposed to Zika virus.
  • Persons who have possible symptoms of Zika.
  • Persons whose history you are unsure about.
• Ask your health care provider about when it is safe to attempt pregnancy after a possible exposure to Zika virus.

If you believe you or your partner has been exposed to Zika virus:

• Avoid all sexual activity until your health care provider says it is safe. Most couples should wait at least 3 months before resuming sexual activity.
• If you choose to have sex, use condoms correctly every time, and for the entire duration of sexual activity.
• Do not share sexual devices. Sharing increases your risk of being exposed to body fluid from another person.

Follow these instructions at home:

• If you are pregnant, get tested for Zika virus if you believe you have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms. Your health care provider may do additional tests during pregnancy, such ultrasound testing.
• Keep all follow-up and prenatal care visits. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you:

• Are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, and:
  • Live in or will be to traveling to an area that has Zika virus disease.
  • May have been exposed to Zika virus.
  • Have symptoms of Zika virus disease.

Summary

• Zika virus disease, or Zika, is an illness that can spread to people from mosquitoes that carry the virus. It may also spread from person to person through infected body fluids.
• Most people who become infected with Zika virus do not develop serious illness. However, a pregnant woman who becomes infected with Zika virus disease may pass the virus on to her baby before or during birth. Babies who become infected with Zika virus may develop brain defects, such as microcephaly.
• Follow your health care provider’s instructions for how to protect yourself from Zika virus from mosquito bites and sexual contact.