Travel Health Advisory
Zika virus remains a risk in over 80 countries. Protect yourself before you travel.
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness first identified in Uganda in 1947. While most infected people show no symptoms, the virus poses serious risks — particularly for pregnant travellers — due to its link to microcephaly and other birth defects.
Bite of an Aedes mosquito (also active during the day)
Mild fever, rash, red eyes, joint pain, headache (2–7 days)
Pregnant women — virus can cause microcephaly in unborn babies
No specific treatment or vaccine currently available
Only 1 in 4 infected people develop visible symptoms
Can also spread through sex and blood transfusion
🌍 Current Outbreak Status
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
The best protection against Zika is avoiding mosquito bites. Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, not just at dusk, so protection should be maintained throughout the day.
🧴 Use Insect Repellent
Apply EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to all exposed skin. Reapply as directed, especially after swimming or sweating.
👕 Cover Up
Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Tuck clothing in and consider treating clothes with permethrin for extra protection.
🏠 Secure Your Accommodation
Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms. Use mosquito nets over beds, and keep doors and windows closed or screened.
💧 Eliminate Standing Water
Empty buckets, flowerpots, tyres, and any containers that collect water around your accommodation — these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
🤰 Important: Advice for Pregnant Travellers
Strong evidence links Zika infection during pregnancy to microcephaly — a serious birth defect involving underdevelopment of the baby's brain and head. Pregnant women, or those planning to become pregnant, are strongly advised to:
- Reconsider non-essential travel to Zika-affected areas
- Consult a travel health doctor or GP before travelling
- Take strict mosquito-bite prevention measures if travel is unavoidable
- Use condoms or avoid sex with a partner who has recently visited a Zika-affected country
📍 Countries with Current or Past Zika Transmission
Zika has been reported in more than 80 countries and territories. The regions below have documented local mosquito-borne transmission:
🩺 When to See a Doctor
If you have recently travelled to a Zika-affected area and develop symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes, see your doctor immediately and mention your travel history. Early diagnosis is important, especially for women who are or may be pregnant.
