For pregnant women in areas with Zika: Protect your pregnancy
Pregnant Women
What We Know
- Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
- Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
- Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes. You can also get Zika through sex without a condom with someone infected by Zika, even if that person does not show symptoms of Zika.
- There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.
How to Protect Yourself
CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women.
Pregnant Women Should Not Travel to an Area with Risk of Zika
- Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika (i.e., with documented or likely Zika virus transmission).
- Pregnant women should consider postponing travel to yellow cautionary areas in the United States. For information on domestic travel, see CDC’s guidance.
What to Do If You Live In or Travel to an Area with Risk of Zika
If you live in or must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and practice safe sex.
During travel or while living in an area with risk of Zika
- Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
- Take steps to prevent getting Zika through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex during your entire pregnancy.
After travel
- Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider after travel to an area with risk of Zika.
- If you develop a fever with a rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, or muscle pain talk to your doctor immediately and tell him or her about your travel.
- Take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after returning.
- Take steps to prevent passing Zika through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex.
Zika Testing for Pregnant Women
If you… | When to be tested |
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Traveled to an area with risk of Zika or had sex with a partner who lived in or traveled to one of these areas |
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Live in or frequently travel (daily or weekly) to an area with risk of Zika |
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Related Fact Sheets
Protect Yourself
Pregnant? Protect yourself from mosquito bites
Travel to an Area with Zika
Pregnant? Read this before you travel
Doctor’s Visit Checklist: For Pregnant Women Who Traveled to an Area with Zika
Zika and Sex: Information for men who have pregnant partners and live in or recently traveled to areas with Zika
Zika Virus Testing for Any Pregnant Woman Not Living in an Area With Zika
Live in an Area with Zika
Pregnant and living in an area with Zika?
Doctor’s Visit Checklist: For Pregnant Women Living in an Area with Zika
Zika and Sex: Information for pregnant women living in areas with Zika
Zika Virus Testing for Pregnant Women Living in an Area with Zika
Positive Zika Virus Test
For Pregnant Women: A Positive Zika Virus Test: What does it mean for me?
US Zika Pregnancy Registry: What Pregnant Women Need to Know
- Page last reviewed: August 16, 2017
- Page last updated: August 16, 2017
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