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Pregnant Women

Doctor a pregnant woman

What We Know

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

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.
Doctor a pregnant woman

See Also


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Men and Zika

How men can protect their partners… More >

Zika Testing for Pregnant Women

If you… When to be tested
Traveled to an area with risk of Zika or had sex with a partner who lived in or traveled to one of these areas
  • You should be tested if you have symptoms of Zika or if an ultrasound shows that your fetus has abnormalities that might be related to Zika infection.
  • Routine testing is not recommended for pregnant women exposed to these areas who do not have symptoms. However, your doctor may offer testing based on your individual situation.
Live in or frequently travel (daily or weekly) to an area with risk of Zika
  • If you have symptoms of Zika at any time during your pregnancy, you should be tested for Zika.
  • If you do not have symptoms, you should be offered testing at your first prenatal care visit, followed by two additional rounds of testing at regular prenatal care visits during your pregnancy.

See Also

Image of a couple

Men and Zika

How men can protect their partners… More >

Related Fact Sheets

Protect Yourself


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

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

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