What should you know about types of zika virus?

Zika virus infection is often mild or symptom-free, but it can be important during pregnancy because infection may affect the developing baby. Advice depends on symptoms, travel to an affected area, pregnancy status, and possible sexual exposure.

When symptoms occur, they may include a mild fever, itchy rash, red eyes, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, or feeling unwell. These features can resemble other mosquito-borne infections, and symptoms alone cannot identify Zika. Some infected people have no symptoms at all.

Zika is mainly spread by infected mosquitoes. It can also pass through sexual contact and from a pregnant person to the developing baby. This is why travel history and pregnancy planning are relevant even when the illness seems minor.

If you develop symptoms during or after travel to an area where Zika occurs, arrange a GP Consultation and share your travel dates, destinations, symptoms, pregnancy status, and possible sexual exposure. Avoid mosquito bites while unwell by using repellent, covering exposed skin, and using screens or air-conditioning where available.

If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or have a partner who is pregnant, seek tailored advice before travel and after possible exposure. A Travel Health Consultation can help with destination-specific prevention and pregnancy-related planning.

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, facial weakness, new severe weakness, confusion, fainting, inability to drink, or rapidly worsening illness. Arrange prompt clinical advice after possible Zika exposure if you are pregnant or could be pregnant, even if symptoms are absent or mild.

Ask whether your destination has Zika risk, how long precautions should continue after travel, whether testing is useful, and what sexual precautions fit your circumstances. If pregnancy is relevant, ask how exposure changes antenatal follow-up.