Zika and pregnancy: what to know before travel

Zika is mainly spread by infected mosquitoes, but sexual transmission can also occur. Many infections cause no symptoms; when symptoms occur, they may include rash, fever, joint pain, red eyes, and headache. A person who is pregnant, trying to conceive, or whose partner is pregnant should discuss destination-specific risk before travel rather than relying on symptoms to judge exposure.

Arrange a travel-health review before booking or departing for an area with Zika risk. Use mosquito protection day and night, including covered clothing, suitable repellent, screens, and air conditioning where available. If exposure occurs, contact a clinician and share travel dates, symptoms, pregnancy stage, and partner exposure. Discuss sexual precautions with a GP or travel-health clinician, including how they apply during pregnancy and when planning conception.

Contact a clinician promptly after travel to an affected area if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or develop a rash, fever, joint pain, red eyes, or headache. Seek urgent care for severe weakness, trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening symptoms. A GP can coordinate testing decisions and pregnancy follow-up when exposure is possible.

Ask how your destination and travel dates affect advice, which mosquito precautions are suitable in pregnancy, whether testing is appropriate, and what sexual precautions are recommended for you and your partner.