Zika Virus
Most people with Zika do not become ill and may not realize they have been infected. If symptoms do occur, they most commonly
- Include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes
- Are mild
- Appear 3 to 12 days after the mosquito bite
- Last a few days to a week
People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they rarely die of Zika.
Those who work or travel in an area where Zika is found should take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Currently, no reported cases of Zika in the United States have been associated with local mosquito transmission, but there have been travel-associated cases. Workers at risk for Zika include those who work in or travel to an area where Zika is found. Local transmission of Zika virus has been reported in three U.S. territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. For the most current information about where Zika is found, visit the CDC Areas with Zika and Zika Travel Information.
Pregnant women should delay work or travel to areas where Zika is found. If a pregnant woman is infected with Zika virus, it can pass to her fetus. Scientists have linked Zika virus infection during pregnancy with microcephaly, a birth defect that is a sign of incomplete brain development. They also are investigating other problems linked to Zika infection during pregnancy.
Because the virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners, men who work in or travel to areas where Zika is found must take precautions. The Zika virus can be transmitted in a man’s semen before, during, or after he has symptoms of infection. Men should talk to their healthcare provider and follow steps to prevent Zika transmission.
