One of the most common questions we get at MotherToBaby about Zika is, “What is the risk of Zika if I travel to Country X?” Or, a variation of the same: “We just got back from Country X. Did really should we wait 3 months before trying to get pregnant?’
When the Zika epidemic was sweeping the Western Hemisphere, the answer to these travel-related questions was pretty simple. It was easier to know where there was a risk of Zika infection as governments and public health organizations around the world worked together to identify and report cases. Since then, the number of reported Zika cases has dropped dramatically, but sporadic, low-level transmission continues to occur in some areas. Case detection and reporting systems vary widely from country to country now, making it difficult to know the exact level of risk in any given area.
So what’s a traveler to do?
First and foremost, all travelers should avoid mosquito bites to help prevent not only Zika, but also other mosquito-borne diseases. Preventing bites is important for everyone, especially those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and their partners. The best way to prevent mosquito bites while traveling is to use an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023 and icaridin)
- IR3535
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
- Paramenthanediol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
Other ways to prevent bites while traveling include wearing loose, long-sleeved shirts and pants and sleeping in mosquito-free areas (such as accommodations with window and door screens or air conditioning, or sleeping under mosquito net).
Second, think about your destination.
Check for active Zika Travel Health Alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Travel health alerts indicate areas with known current Zika transmission.
After checking for Zika travel health alerts, visit the CDC interactive Zika map. The map uses different shades of blue to broadly classify Zika risk in countries and regions around the world:
- Dark blue areas have reported Zika transmission in the past, and there may be sporadic or low-level transmission in some areas. As in any field, there may be delays in identifying and reporting any new cases.
- Areas in medium blue have the type of mosquitoes that most commonly transmit Zika, but have not reported Zika cases in the past.
- Blue areas are not known to have the type of mosquitoes that most commonly transmit Zika and have not reported Zika cases in the past.
Third, learn the recommendations.
Learn about pregnancy-related recommendations based on your destination (summary below). Depending on where you’re thinking of going, the CDC may advise you to avoid travel, take steps to prevent passing the virus to a partner through sex (sexual transmission), and/or delay pregnancy if you or your partner is planning to get pregnant. Preventing the sexual transmission of Zika means using condoms or dental dams, not sharing sex toys or having sex for 2 months after travel (for biological women) or 3 months after travel (for biological men). If you are delaying pregnancy after travel, follow these same time frames (2 months after travel for biological women and 3 months after travel for biological male partners).
recommendations for areas with a Zika travel health alert:
- If you are pregnant, avoid traveling to these areas.
- If your partner is pregnant and you must travel to these areas, prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during and after travel according to the above guidelines and time frames.
- If you or your partner are planning pregnancy and choose to travel to these areas, prevent mosquito bites, prevent sexual transmission, and delay pregnancy after travel according to the above guidelines and time frames.
recommendations for areas with current or previous transmission (dark blue on the map):
- If you or your partner are pregnant and choose to travel to these areas, be sure to prevent mosquito bites. If you are concerned about Zika, prevent sexual transmission during and after travel according to the guidelines and time frames above.
- If you or your partner are planning a pregnancy, be sure to prevent mosquito bites. If you are concerned about Zika, prevent sexual transmission during and after travel and consider delaying pregnancy according to the guidelines and time frames above.
For travel to all other mosquito areas, take steps to prevent bites.
Finally, talk to your healthcare provider.
Talk to your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns. They can help you consider the nature of your trip, your ability to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission, the risks associated with possible Zika infection, your pregnancy plans, and any other factors that affect you, the your partner and your circumstances.
MotherToBaby experts are also available to talk with you about Zika or other travel-related exposures before or during pregnancy. Safe and happy travels!
