The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an up-to-date world map showing areas with active Zika transmission.
FeverSkin rashConjunctivitis (pink eye)Joint or muscle painHeadache
Typically, these symptoms are mild and last about a week. The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on someone who already has the virus, and they spread it to other people through their bites. There are other, less common ways that the Zika virus may be spread. Some of these reported modes of transmission have not been confirmed or require more research. It is not spread by respiratory droplets like SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 infection.
Mother to Child
Zika can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth.
Blood Transfusion
Through Sex
Health officials have confirmed that the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The virus remains active in semen longer than in other bodily fluids such as blood and urine.
Laboratory and Healthcare Settings
There have been some reports of Zika virus infections acquired in laboratory settings.
Animals
Testing for Zika is usually recommended if a person shows symptoms after having been in a high-risk area or having unprotected sex with a partner who has been in an area where Zika is common. Many people infected with the virus don’t have any signs or develop only mild symptoms, so the infection may go undetected.
Prognosis of Zika Virus Infection
To relieve symptoms of the virus, the CDC recommends that you:
Drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydrationGet plenty of restTake acetaminophen to reduce pain and feverDon’t take aspirin, ibuprofen, or any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without talking to your doctorTell your physician about all the medications you’re taking if you become infected with the Zika virus
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Prevention of Zika Virus Infection
There are several ways to protect yourself:
Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)–registered insect repellent with active ingredients such as DEET and picaridin.The EPA offers an online search tool to help you choose the right repellent. But don’t use insect repellent on babies younger than two months of age.Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirtsFind lodging with air-conditioning or screens to keep mosquitoes outsideTreat clothes with the insecticide permethrinSleep under a mosquito bed net if you’re sleeping outdoorsCover a baby’s crib, stroller, or carrier with mosquito nettingRemove stagnant water that may collect in places like planters, buckets, birdbaths, or trash containers.
Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should consider avoiding any travel to areas with risk of Zika.
Pregnancy and Zika
Pregnant women should take special precautions to protect themselves, because Zika virus infection has been linked to miscarriage and birth defects. The CDC recommends that women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should consider postponing travel to areas where Zika is a concern. If expectant mothers must travel, they should talk to their doctor ahead of time and come up with a strategy to prevent exposure to mosquitoes and practice safe sex. The CDC advises men who plan to conceive not to have unprotected sex for at least three months after any possible Zika exposure or symptoms since the virus can survive in semen for a prolonged period.
Microcephaly
In 2020, there were three Zika virus disease cases reported in the United States; each of those cases were travelers returning from infected areas.
Zika Today and New Research
Other Insect-Borne Diseases
Just as alarming as the increase in known diseases is the fact that nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks have been discovered in the United States and its territories since 2004. These include the Bourbon virus, a rare and deadly tick-borne disease that was first spotted in Bourbon County, Kansas, in 2014, and the Heartland virus, which is most likely transmitted by lone star ticks and is endemic to midwestern and southern states. The CDC offers science-based, data-driven info on Zika in the United States and abroad, including the basics about the virus, tips on prevention and mosquito control, and up-to-date maps and statistics. World Health Organization (WHO) The WHO directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations. Check out their website for comprehensive coverage of Zika, including fact sheets on the virus and associated conditions, updates on outbreaks, and answers to common questions. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious and Diseases (NIAID) Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NIAID undertakes and supports research into infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. On their website, you can find the latest news about treatment and vaccine research. Additional reporting by Lynn Marks.
