What should you know about Zika during pregnancy?

Zika can be acquired through mosquito bites or sexual contact. During pregnancy, infection can affect the developing baby, which is why travel, exposure, and symptoms should be discussed without delay. Symptoms can include rash, fever, red eyes, headache, or joint discomfort, but some people do not notice any illness. The absence of symptoms cannot by itself settle whether there has been an exposure relevant to pregnancy.

Contact your maternity team or clinician and share travel destinations, dates, mosquito exposure, symptoms, and sexual exposure. Continue routine pregnancy care unless your team changes the plan. Take steps to prevent mosquito bites, including suitable repellent, covered clothing, and protected accommodation. Your clinician can explain whether testing or additional pregnancy monitoring is appropriate for your situation. A partner who has travelled may also need advice about sexual precautions.

Arrange prompt care after a possible exposure during pregnancy, whether or not you feel unwell. Seek urgent medical help for severe headache, fainting, breathing problems, persistent vomiting, heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or any urgent pregnancy concern such as reduced fetal movement later in pregnancy. Fever after travel can have causes other than Zika and should be assessed rather than managed by self-diagnosis.

Ask how your travel and exposure history affects your pregnancy, whether testing is useful, what symptoms should prompt urgent contact, and how your partner can reduce transmission risk. Bring a list of medicines, supplements, and recent travel dates.