Key points
- Counsel people who are pregnant, people planning pregnancy, and their partners on the possible risks of Zika virus infection during travel.
- Counsel people who are pregnant, people planning pregnancy, and their partners living in areas with current or past Zika virus transmission about their risks in the context of the local situation and the potential need to prevent sexual transmission.
Counseling travelers
Healthcare professionals should review CDC's Zika travel guidance with people who are pregnant, their partners, and people who are planning pregnancy before travel. CDC does not have accurate information on the current risk of Zika virus exposure in many geographic areas. Recommendations are based on whether travel is to a geographic area with an active CDC Zika Travel Health Notice or with current or past Zika virus transmission.
Destinations with a risk of Zika virus transmission
Pregnant travelers
Because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects associated with congenital Zika syndrome, advise people who are pregnant to avoid travel to areas with an active Zika Travel Health Notice. If a person who is pregnant chooses to travel, they should be advised to strictly follow recommendations to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during and after travel. Travelers with a pregnant partner should consider the reasons for travel, ability to prevent mosquito bites and potential risk of transmitting Zika to their pregnant partner. If they choose to travel to an area with an active Zika Travel Health Notice, advise them to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during and after travel.
Inform people who are pregnant and their partners of the possible risks to the fetus when considering travel to areas with current or past spread of Zika virus. In deciding to travel, they should consider the destination, reason for traveling, and their ability to prevent mosquito bites. If a person who is pregnant or their partner chooses to travel, counsel them to prevent mosquito bites during and after travel. Also advise them to consider preventing sexual transmission during and after travel if they are concerned about the possible risks of Zika to the fetus.
Travelers planning pregnancy
Advise people planning to become pregnant and their partners who travel to areas with an active Zika Travel Health Notice to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during and after travel. Additionally, advise them to delay pregnancy following travel using the timeframes to prevent sexual transmission.
Advise people planning to become pregnant and their partners who travel to areas with current or past Zika virus transmission to prevent mosquito bites during and after travel. If they are concerned about the risk of Zika, advise them to consider preventing sexual transmission during and after travel, and delaying their pregnancy according to the timeframes to prevent sexual transmission. CDC supports shared patient-provider decision making to determine timeframes to wait before trying to conceive after possible Zika virus exposure. Some couples might choose to wait shorter or longer periods depending on individual circumstances (e.g., age, fertility, or details of possible exposure), healthcare provider judgement, and an assessment of risks and possible outcomes.
Counseling people living abroad
Healthcare providers should review CDC's Zika guidance for people living abroad with people who are pregnant, their partners, and people planning pregnancy living in areas with an active Zika Travel Heath Notice or in an area with current or past Zika virus transmission.
Advise people who are pregnant and their partners living in an area with an active Zika Travel Heath Notice to strictly prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during their entire pregnancy.
Counsel people who are pregnant, people planning pregnancy, and their partners living in areas with current or past Zika virus transmission about their risks in the context of the local situation and the potential need to prevent sexual transmission. Emphasize the importance of preventing mosquito bites.
Educate people who are planning pregnancy and their partners living in an area with an active Zika Travel Heath Notice about their risk of ongoing exposure to Zika virus, the possible risks of Zika to the fetus, and ways to protect themselves. Delaying pregnancy until the transmission risk decreases should be considered.
Communicate the risks of Zika in the context of the local epidemiologic situation to people who are planning pregnancy and their partners living in an area with current or past Zika virus transmission. Counsel on the need to prevent sexual transmission and mosquito bites.