Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms.
A blood or urine test can confirm Zika infection diagnosis.
There is no specific medicine for Zika.
Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are
- Fever
- Rash
- Joint pain
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
Other symptoms include:
- Muscle pain
- Headache
How long symptoms last
Zika is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Symptoms of Zika are similar to other viruses spread through mosquito bites, like dengue and chikungunya.
How soon you should be tested
Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week. See your doctor or other healthcare provider if you develop symptoms and you live in or have recently traveled to an area with Zika. Your doctor or other healthcare provider may order blood tests to look for Zika or other similar viruses like dengue or chikungunya. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
When to see a doctor or healthcare provider
See your doctor or other healthcare provider if you have the symptoms described above and have visited an area with Zika, this is especially important if you are pregnant. Be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare provider where you traveled.
If you think you have Zika
See your doctor or other healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Learn what you can do for treatment.
Learn how you can protect others if you have Zika.
Pregnancy
What we know
- Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
- Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects
- Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes. You can also get Zika through sex.
- There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.
What we do not know
- If there’s a safe time during your pregnancy to travel to an area with Zika.
- How likely it is that Zika infection will affect your pregnancy.
- If your baby will have birth defects if you are infected while pregnant.
Preventing Unintended Pregnancy during the Zika Virus Outbreak
CDC is providing this information because Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
How to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy
If you decide that now is not the right time to have a baby, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider. The best way to prevent unintended pregnancy if you are sexually active is to use an effective form of birth control the right way, every time you have sex. It is important to find a type of birth control that is safe, effective, and works for you.
Types of Birth Control
There are many different types of birth control; some have hormones and some don’t. Also, some methods are permanent while others are reversible. The most effective reversible birth control is long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), which includes intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. LARC are highly effective for years and once correctly in place, require no action on your part, but can be removed at any time if you decide you want to become pregnant.
For other types of birth control, the effectiveness depends on using them correctly and consistently—so these methods have lower effectiveness with typical use. These methods include
- Hormonal methods (contraceptive shot, pills, patch, and ring)
- Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragms, spermicides)
- Methods based on understanding your monthly fertility pattern
