Side effects of Zika virus

Many infections cause no symptoms or a mild illness. When symptoms occur, they can include an itchy rash, fever, red eyes, joint pain, muscle pain, headache and low energy. Zika can also spread through sexual contact. Infection during pregnancy can affect the developing baby, so current or recent pregnancy changes the advice. Other mosquito-borne infections can look similar, and a clinician may need your travel and exposure history to interpret symptoms.

Rest, drink fluids and use a cool environment if fever makes you uncomfortable. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before taking pain or fever medicine, particularly until dengue has been considered, because some medicines can increase bleeding risk. Prevent mosquito bites with covered clothing, screens and an appropriate repellent. Use safer-sex precautions and discuss pregnancy planning or pregnancy exposure promptly with a healthcare professional.

Arrange medical assessment after compatible symptoms and recent travel or mosquito exposure, especially if you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or have a partner who may have been exposed. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, fainting, severe weakness, confusion, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, or rapidly worsening illness. A GP or travel clinician can advise about testing and follow-up.

Ask whether your travel dates and symptoms warrant testing, how to prevent sexual transmission, how long to avoid mosquito bites, and what monitoring is appropriate during pregnancy or before conception.