Key takeaways
- Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that is usually mild in adults, but infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other birth defects known as congenital Zika syndrome.
- Health authorities advise pregnant women to consider avoiding travel to places with Zika risk, and the CDC advises against travel to areas with an active Zika outbreak.
- There is no vaccine and no specific treatment, so prevention rests on avoiding day-biting Aedes mosquitoes and on safer sex.
- Zika can be passed on sexually: UK and WHO advice is to use condoms for 3 months after a male partner returns and 2 months after a woman returns — and for the whole pregnancy if you are already pregnant.
- Check the current risk for your destination close to departure and talk to your midwife, doctor or a travel clinic before booking.
Zika rarely makes the news any more, but for anyone who is pregnant or trying for a baby it is still one of the most important questions to ask before a trip to the tropics. The virus circulates in parts of the Americas, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Africa and Asia, and the advice for pregnancy is different from the advice for everyone else. Here is what the current guidance from the WHO, NHS, ECDC and CDC actually says — and what you can do about it.
What is Zika virus?
Zika is a flavivirus — a relative of dengue and yellow fever — spread mainly by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes bite mostly during the day, with peaks in the morning and late afternoon, and they live comfortably in towns and cities as well as in the countryside.
Most people who catch Zika have few or no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild and last around 2 to 7 days: a rash, fever, red eyes (conjunctivitis), muscle and joint pain and headache. Because the illness looks so similar to dengue and chikungunya, only a laboratory test can confirm it.
Why Zika matters so much in pregnancy
The problem is not the mother’s illness but what the virus can do to a developing baby. Zika can pass from mother to fetus, and the WHO confirms that infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly (an unusually small head) and other congenital malformations, including eye problems, hearing loss and stiff joints. Together these are called congenital Zika syndrome.
- The WHO estimates that around 5–15% of babies born to women infected with Zika during pregnancy show Zika-related complications.
- Malformations can occur after both symptomatic and symptom-free infections — feeling well is no guarantee.
- Zika in pregnancy has also been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.
What the current travel advice says
Advice differs slightly between countries, but the direction is the same everywhere: if you are pregnant, Zika risk at your destination should shape your plans.
If you are pregnant
- UK (NHS): consider avoiding travel to a country with a risk of Zika virus if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy in the near future.
- US (CDC): pregnant people should not travel to areas with a current Zika outbreak, and should discuss any trip to an area with Zika risk with their healthcare provider.
- If travel is unavoidable: follow strict bite prevention throughout the day and use condoms for the rest of the pregnancy.
If you are planning a pregnancy
Because Zika can be passed on through sex, the advice continues after you come home. Both the NHS and the WHO recommend condoms (or avoiding sex) for:
- 3 months if a male partner has travelled (alone or with you);
- 2 months if only the woman has travelled;
- the entire pregnancy if you are already pregnant and either partner has been to a Zika-risk area.
Where Zika occurs
Zika has been reported in more than 80 countries. The NHS lists South and Central America, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, Africa and Asia. In Europe, the ECDC monitors the risk because the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) can transmit the virus — France recorded a small cluster of locally acquired Zika cases in 2019 — but mainland Europe is not considered a Zika-risk destination for travellers. Risk maps change, so check an official source such as GOV.UK or your national travel health service shortly before you go.
Who should be extra careful — at a glance
| Your situation | Typical advice | After the trip |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant | Consider postponing non-essential travel to Zika-risk areas; avoid areas with an active outbreak | Condoms for the rest of the pregnancy if either partner travelled |
| Woman planning a pregnancy | Discuss timing with a doctor or travel clinic before booking | Condoms for 2 months after return |
| Male partner of someone pregnant or planning | Strict bite prevention during the trip | Condoms for 3 months after return (whole pregnancy if partner is pregnant) |
| Other travellers | Daytime bite prevention — Zika is usually mild | Seek advice if symptoms appear |
How to avoid mosquito bites when Zika is a concern
There is still no Zika vaccine, so avoiding bites is the main line of defence. The WHO stresses protection during the day and early evening, when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.
- Use a repellent on exposed skin and reapply as the label directs, especially after swimming or heavy sweating. If you also use sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and repellent on top.
- Cover up: loose, light-coloured long sleeves and trousers reduce the skin available to bite.
- Keep mosquitoes outside: choose accommodation with air-conditioning or window and door screens, and use a mosquito net if rooms are open.
- Think daytime: beaches, markets and city sightseeing are prime biting time for Aedes — not just dusk.
- Remove standing water around holiday rentals (buckets, plant saucers), where Aedes breed.
Repellent choice in pregnancy is a common worry. The CDC states that EPA-registered repellents, used as directed, are suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding; its list of recommended actives includes PMD and oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) alongside others. We cover this in more detail in our guide to insect repellent in pregnancy. Always read the label of the specific product and ask your midwife or pharmacist if you are unsure.
How incognito® helps
Our incognito® Insect Repellent Spray is DEET-free and uses PMD (Citrepel®), a plant-based active derived from Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) — the same class of active ingredient recognised by the CDC and ECDC. It is clinically proven, recommended against mosquitoes and ticks, vegan and biodegradable, with a light citrus scent that makes regular daytime reapplication easier. For longer trips, the Elite Traveller Bundle puts the essentials for a long-haul trip in one kit. If you are pregnant, check the product label and speak to your midwife or doctor before travelling and before use.
What to do if you get symptoms
If you develop a rash, fever, red eyes or joint pain during or after a trip, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol for pain if needed — avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers until dengue has been ruled out. Contact your doctor or midwife promptly if you are pregnant, if your partner is pregnant, or if you become pregnant within 3 months of returning. Pregnant women may be offered blood tests and extra ultrasound scans to check the baby’s growth. Planning other tropical vaccines too? See our guide to dengue vaccination for travellers.
FAQs
Is it safe to travel to a Zika area while pregnant?
Health authorities advise against it where possible. The NHS says to consider avoiding travel to countries with Zika risk during pregnancy, and the CDC advises pregnant people not to travel to areas with an active outbreak.
How long after a Zika-risk trip should we wait before trying for a baby?
The NHS and WHO advise using condoms for 3 months if a male partner travelled and for 2 months if only the woman travelled. If you are already pregnant, use condoms for the rest of the pregnancy.
Is there a vaccine against Zika?
No. There is currently no vaccine and no specific treatment for Zika, so avoiding mosquito bites and preventing sexual transmission are the only protection.
Can I use insect repellent while pregnant?
The CDC states that EPA-registered repellents used according to the label are suitable in pregnancy. Always follow the instructions on the specific product and ask your midwife or pharmacist if you are unsure.
When do Zika mosquitoes bite?
Aedes mosquitoes bite mainly during the day, with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, so repellent and covering up matter throughout the day, not only at dusk.
Is there Zika in Europe?
Mainland Europe is not considered a Zika-risk destination. The Asian tiger mosquito can carry the virus, and France reported a small number of locally acquired cases in 2019, so the ECDC continues to monitor the situation.
Sources
- WHO — Zika virus fact sheet
- NHS — Zika virus
- GOV.UK (UKHSA) — Zika virus: guidance, data and analysis
- ECDC — Zika virus infection
- ECDC — Protective measures against mosquitoes
- EPA — Find the repellent that is right for you
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, speak to your midwife, doctor or a travel health clinic before travelling and before using any product, and always follow the product label.