Infectious Diseases Zika Virus Zika Virus Guide Zika Virus Guide Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention How to Prevent the Zika Virus Tips for Avoiding Infection Abroad By Naveed Saleh, MD, MS Naveed Saleh, MD, MS LinkedIn Twitter Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, is a medical writer and editor covering new treatments and trending health news. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 20, 2021 Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anju Goel, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in the California public health system addressing communicable disease, health policy, and disaster preparedness. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Mosquito Preventon Sexual Exposure Blood Exposure Vaccine Development Frequently Asked Questions Next in Zika Virus Guide Symptoms of the Zika Virus While many people infected with Zika virus will not show symptoms or will only have mild illness, the transmission from mother to child during pregnancy can be serious and lead to a rare birth defect known as microcephaly. Currently, there is neither a vaccine nor any specific treatment for this virus, so preventing Zika infection in the first place is the only true means of protection. The main mode of transmission is a bite from a Zika-carrying mosquito, so wearing insect repellant, covering up, and taking other steps to stay bite-free when you are living in or traveling to an endemic area is crucial. Another key Zika prevention step: Using condoms (or abstaining from sex) if a partner has been in a high-risk area of the world. Zika can pass from one person to another through semen, vaginal fluids, and saliva, so it's possible for someone to get the virus without ever having been bitten by an infected mosquito themself. Causes and Risk Factors of Zika Virus © Verywell, 2018 Preventing Mosquito Bites The Zika virus is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a strain prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. This mosquito is recognized by white markings on its legs and another on its back in the shape of a lyre (a U-shaped harp). Mosquitoes that spread Zika bite during the day and night. Is There a Zika Season? Yes. In the northern hemisphere, Zika season could start as early as April and end in November when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true, with the season running from September through May.Most Zika outbreaks occur during the spring and summer months when the mosquito is actively breeding. The risk is highest during the height of summer. The Aedes aegypti mosquito can be found in most equatorial countries but is associated with large-scale infestations in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, Central and East Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. In the United States, the mosquito is most commonly seen on the Gulf Coast running from Texas to Florida, although there are no current reported transmissions of the virus in the entire U.S. If you are in an area where there is a risk of mosquito-borne transmission, there are several things you can do to prevent bites: Use an insect repellent. Mosquito repellent options include those made with DEET (minimum 10% concentration), picaridin (also known as icaridin or KBR 3023), and lemon eucalyptus oil. Wear protective clothing. This includes wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks, and shoes. Pant legs can be tucked into boots or socks for added protection. Sleep under a mosquito net. Repellent-infused netting is available through specialty retailers. Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes can breed in even small amounts of water around the house. This includes flower vases and blocked gutters. Place mosquito dunks in your yard. These larvicide-containing cakes kill mosquito larvae before they can grow into adults. They are safe for people and pets, and available in many yard supply stores and online. When there is an outbreak, your local health department may even provide them for free. Keep mosquitoes from getting inside. Close windows and vents, and only keep doors and windows open if they are fitted with screens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers regularly updated Zika travel advisories if you plan to travel. If the Zika risk is high, either change your plans or postpone your trip to cooler autumn or winter months. The Most Common Mosquito-Borne Diseases Preventing Exposure to Zika Through Sex Zika can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. According to the CDC, there is evidence of female/male and male/male sexual transmission; while female/female transmission hasn't been reported, it is possible from a biological perspective. If you or your partner reside in or have just returned from an area where Zika is endemic, there are several things you both can do. This is important regardless of whether or not you or your partner are showing symptoms (most commonly, infected people won't have any symptoms, so it is possible to have the virus but feel fine): Use condoms. The CDC currently recommends using condoms for at least eight weeks following the return of your partner if asymptomatic and at least six months if symptomatic. Short of abstinence, this is the best all-around form of protection from Zika. Use insect repellent. This should be used by both you and your partner for at least three weeks following their return. Doing so may prevent human-mosquito-human transmission. Use dental dams during oral sex. Dental dams should be used for oral-penile sex, oral-vaginal sex, or oral-anal sex. If you don't have a dental dam, you can make one. Avoid sharing sex toys. You should also use condoms on sex toys and disinfect the toy between uses. If you or your partner develop Zika symptoms, testing should be sought from the municipal or state health department. How Zika Is Diagnosed If Planning to Conceive If you are trying to conceive and you or your partner have been in an area where Zika is a concern, you may want to stop until a doctor tells you otherwise. The amount of time the virus remains in bodily fluids varies, but it can stay the longest in semen. The Zika virus can persist in semen for as long as 188 days following the onset of symptoms, according to a 2016 study in European Surveillance. During this time, if the virus is passed to a pregnant woman, it's possible that her baby may develop an abnormally small head and brain (microcephaly). According to research published by the CDC in 2018, of 1,450 children whose mothers had been infected with Zika during pregnancy, no less than 6% of them had microcephaly. Neither preconception testing for Zika nor the testing of an asymptomatic partner is currently advised by the CDC. Until an effective treatment or vaccine is found, every effort should be made to avoid exposure to the Zika virus. If an infection occurs, treatment is primarily focused on symptom management. Preventing Blood Exposure While there have been several cases in Brazil where the Zika virus has been passed through a blood transfusion, the risk is considered low. While research is ongoing, the current evidence suggests that the virus is less able to persist in blood and will likely clear within 13 days. In an effort to further reduce the risk of transmission, guidelines implemented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend routinely screening blood donations and removing any that test positive for the Zika virus. If this doesn't offer you enough assurance, you can make an autologous donation in which you donate blood for yourself before surgery or a planned medical procedure. Autologous donations require a doctor's prescription. Contact your provider to find out if you are eligible to make such a donation. What to Know About Blood Transfusions and Donations Zika Virus Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Vaccine Development Although no Zika vaccine is currently available, there are several undergoing various phases of clinical research. The three types of vaccines currently under investigation are broadly categorized as live-attenuated vaccines (using weakened live viruses that cannot cause disease), inactivated vaccines (using killed viruses), and vectored vaccines (which use a modified harmless virus to carry an antigen, DNA, or RNA to target cells). How Do Vaccines Work, Exactly? Among the Zika vaccine candidates showing the greatest promise as of 2020, which are in various phases: VRC5283, developed in coordination with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which uses a modified Japanese encephalitis virus to deliver DNA to target cells to induce a Zika-specific antibody response GLS-5700, being developed by Invovio Pharmaceuticals, which is taking a similar approach to VRC5283 mRNA-1325, being developed by Moderna Therapeutics, which is built on a messenger RNA platform similar to the one used to develop Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine rZIKV/D4Δ30-713, a live attenuated vaccine also developed under the auspices of NIAID ChAdOx1 Zika, a live attenuated vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford ZPIV, an inactivated, whole-killed Zika vaccine being developed under the auspices of NIAID TAK-426, being developed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, another inactivated, whole-killed Zika vaccine VLA160, an inactivated, whole-killed vaccine developed by Valneva GmbH that includes an aluminum-based adjuvant to stimulate a more robust immune response Generally speaking, only when a vaccine candidate enters Phase 3 clinical trials will researchers have a clearer idea as to whether it will provide the desired level of immune protection and safety in a broad sector of the population. Frequently Asked Questions How do you prevent Zika virus? Zika is primarily spread through mosquitos. If in an endemic region, you can reduce your risk by:Using mosquito repellentWearing protective clothing that covers the bodyTucking your pant legs into your socksKeeping doors, windows, and vents shutInstalling window screens and screen doorsSleeping under approved mosquito nettingGetting rid of standing waterUsing larvicidal mosquito cakes designed to kill larvae What is the best mosquito repellent for Zika virus? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following repellents that are considered safe when used as directed:DEETPicaridin (KBR 3023)IR3535Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)Para-menthane-diol (PMD)2-undecanone How do you prevent getting Zika from sex? The CDC recommends either the avoidance of sex or consistent barrier protection (i.e., condoms, female condoms, and dental dams) for no less than three months if a male partner has returned from an endemic region and no less than two months if the female partner has returned from an endemic region. Can you avoid passing Zika to the baby during pregnancy? Unfortunately, no. There are no treatments or vaccines available. With that said, not every infection results in a birth defect. Research suggests that 5% to 10% of children born to mothers with a confirmed infection have birth defects. In the end, the only way to avoid passing Zika during pregnancy is to take standard precautions if at risk. How Zika Infections Are Treated 15 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnant women and Zika. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika transmission. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus: statistics and maps. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mosquitoes. Larvicides. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical guidance for healthcare providers for prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus: sexual transmission and prevention. Nicastri E, Castilletti C, Liuzzi G, Iannetta M, Capobianchi MR, Ippolito G. Persistent detection of Zika virus RNA in semen for six months after symptom onset in a traveller returning from Haiti to Italy, February 2016. Euro Surveill. 2016;21(32):30314. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.32.30314 Rice ME, Galang RR, Roth NM, et al. Vital signs: Zika-associated birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities possibly associated with congenital Zika virus infection - U.S. territories and freely associated states, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Aug 10;67(31):858-67. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6731e1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for Zika. Paz-bailey G, Rosenberg ES, Doyle K, et al. Persistence of Zika virus in body fluids - final report. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(13):1234-43. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1613108 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Donor screening recommendations to reduce the risk of transmission of Zika virus by human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products. Pattnaik A, Sahoo BR, Pattnaik AK. Current status of Zika virus vaccines: successes and challenges. Vaccines (Basel). 2020 Jun;8(2):266. doi:10.3390/vaccines8020266 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevent mosquito bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data statistics on Zika and pregnancy. By Naveed Saleh, MD, MS Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, is a medical writer and editor covering new treatments and trending health news. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit