Avoid Mosquito Bites while Traveling

Traveling? Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your vacation.

If you are planning a trip, do your homework before traveling! Learn how to keep yourself and your family healthy during and after your trip. Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses are all spread by mosquito bites. Anyone who lives in or travels to an area where these viruses are found and has not already been infected is at risk.

Getting infected with dengue or chikungunya can make you sick and if you are pregnant,  Zika infection could threaten your pregnancy. The best way to prevent getting sick is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

What is Zika?

Zika is a virus primarily spread to people through mosquito bites. Zika can also be spread by an infected person to his or her sex partners. A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Zika can cause microcephaly and other severe birth defects. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Many people who get infected won’t know it. For people who do get sick, the illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.

Pregnant or trying?

• You should not travel to any area where Zika virus is spreading.
• If you must travel, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.

For more information, see our Zika and Pregnancy webpage.

What is dengue?

Dengue is another common viral infection found throughout the Americas. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat dengue. Symptoms of dengue begin with high fever, and may also include severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash, and mild bleeding (e.g., nose or gums bleed; unusual bruising). Most people will recover after about a week, but sometimes dengue can become a serious or even fatal. Severe dengue is an emergency and requires hospitalization. For more information: dengue

What is chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a virus spread through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya. Most people feel better within a week. In some people, joint pain can last for weeks to months. See the latest information on where chikungunya is found.

Before Your Trip

Make a list. Check it twice. Use the following resources to help you prepare for your trip:

• See a healthcare provider familiar with travel medicine, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Need help finding a clinic? Go to the Find a Clinic webpage to find a travel medicine clinic near you.
• Learn about country-specific health risks and recommendations by visiting CDC Travelers’ Health website.
• Pack a travel health kit. Remember to pack Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent with one of the following ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone [862 KB].
• Learn how to prepare for a healthy trip by visiting Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel.

Stay Healthy During Your Trip

The mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses bite during the day and night.

The best way to prevent getting sick is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Here’s how:

Cover up!

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Keep mosquitoes outside

• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Use insect repellent

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breast-feeding women.

• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.

• To protect your child from mosquito bites:
  • Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Do not use products containing OEL or PMD on children younger than 3 years old.
  • Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
  • Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
  • Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin.
  • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items.
  • Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See product information to learn how long the protection will last.
  • If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
  • Do NOT use permethrin products directly on skin. They are intended to treat clothing.

For more information, visit Insect Repellents: Reducing Insect Bites.

After Your Trip

Even if they do not feel sick, travelers returning from an area with Zika, dengue, and chikungunya should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks so they do not spread Zika to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people.

Sick with a fever, joint, muscle or bone aches, a rash or conjunctivitis (red eye) after traveling? Visit your healthcare provider right away.

If you develop a fever with muscle, joint or bone pain, rash, or conjunctivitis (red eye), take acetaminophen for pain relief. Do not take aspirin. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see a healthcare provider.

Tell your healthcare provider where you recently traveled. Your doctor may order a test(s) to look for chikungunya, dengue, Zika, or other similar viruses.

For more information, visit: Getting Sick after Travel