Zika Virus Symptoms, Risks and Prevention

• June 02 2017, by SANUSq Research team
• 7 min reading time

A decade on from the outbreak that put it on front pages worldwide, Zika is quieter now — but for anyone travelling while pregnant, it still matters.

Written by SANUSq Research Team | Medically reviewed by Dr Ajay Kumar, MD
Published: 9 September 2017 | Updated: 24 August 2026

Key facts, symptoms and prevention for the Zika virus

In early 2016 the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern, chiefly because of its suspected link to microcephaly, a serious birth defect. That emergency was lifted in November 2016, and in the years since the causal link between Zika infection in pregnancy and congenital brain abnormalities has been confirmed. Transmission today is far lower than at the 2015–16 peak, but sporadic cases continue in parts of the Americas, Asia and Africa — so the basics are still worth knowing.

What is the Zika virus?

Zika is an RNA virus spread mainly by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, chiefly Aedes aegypti, which thrive in hot tropical and subtropical regions. It is the same mosquito that carries chikungunya, dengue fever and yellow fever. A few things worth knowing about this mosquito:

• It is most active at dawn and dusk, but bites through the day, especially in late afternoon and evening.
• Only the females bite.
• It feeds in short bursts and will bite several people in one feeding session, which helps infection spread.
• Its eggs can survive up to a year without water; even a small puddle is enough for them to hatch once water returns.
• It rarely travels more than a few hundred metres, so local mosquito control makes a real difference.
• It is found both indoors and outdoors.

Mosquitoes pick up the virus by biting an infected person and then pass it on. But the mosquito isn't the only route: Zika can also spread through sexual contact and blood transfusion, and from a pregnant woman to her baby in the womb — the route that causes the most concern.

Zika symptoms and complications

Here is what makes Zika unusual: only about one in five infected people develop any symptoms at all. When they do appear, the most common Zika symptoms are fever, an itchy red rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and conjunctivitis (red, inflamed eyes). Most people recover within two to seven days, and death is very rare. So why the global alarm over such a mild illness? Because of two rare but serious complications.

Microcephaly

The gravest concern is the link with microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with an unusually small head and, often, underdeveloped brains. During the Brazilian outbreak, the number of affected infants rose far above what would normally be expected. At the time the connection was still being investigated; it has since been established that Zika infection in pregnancy can cause microcephaly and a wider spectrum of congenital problems. The first trimester appears to be the period of greatest risk — a worrying detail, since it is exactly when many women may not yet know they are pregnant.

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Zika has also been linked with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune condition often triggered by infection, in which the immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. It causes muscle weakness, tingling and, in some cases, temporary paralysis that can last weeks or months. GBS is uncommon and most people recover fully, though severe cases can occur. A surge in GBS cases during the 2013 Zika outbreak in French Polynesia was one of the first signals of this association.

Zika prevention: how to protect yourself

There is still no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika, so Zika prevention rests on avoiding mosquito bites and reducing other routes of transmission:

1. If you are pregnant, take travel advice seriously. Health authorities such as the CDC have long advised pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with active Zika transmission; check current travel notices before booking.
2. Avoid non-essential travel to affected areas.
3. If you do travel somewhere with Zika, minimise mosquito bites: stay in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms, sleep under a mosquito net, use an approved insect repellent, and cover up with long sleeves, long trousers, closed shoes and a hat.
4. Remove mosquito breeding grounds around the home — empty or cover anything that collects standing water, such as buckets, plant pots and old tyres.
5. Because Zika can spread sexually, couples where one partner may have been exposed should use condoms or avoid sex while trying to conceive or during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and returning from an affected area — especially with flu-like symptoms — speak to your doctor about testing.

If you think you have been exposed

Because most infections cause no symptoms at all, feeling fine after travel does not by itself rule anything out. Testing exists, but it is time-sensitive: the virus is detectable in blood and urine only for a limited window after infection, after which antibody testing is used instead, and antibody results can be complicated by previous exposure to related viruses such as dengue. That is a decision for a clinician rather than something to work out yourself.

The practical advice is straightforward. If you are pregnant and have travelled to an area with transmission, tell your doctor or midwife regardless of whether you felt unwell. If you are planning a pregnancy and either partner has travelled, health authorities recommend waiting a period before trying to conceive, and using condoms in the meantime, because the virus can persist in semen for longer than in blood. The specific waiting periods have been revised more than once as evidence has accumulated, so check the current advice from your own national health service rather than relying on an older figure.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main Zika symptoms?

Most people have none. When symptoms do occur they are usually mild: fever, an itchy rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and red eyes, typically clearing within a week. The danger lies less in the illness itself than in its effects during pregnancy.

How is the Zika virus spread?

Mainly through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It can also pass through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from a pregnant woman to her baby — the last of these being the route linked to birth defects.

Is there a Zika vaccine or cure?

Not yet. There is no licensed vaccine and no specific antiviral treatment. Care focuses on rest, fluids and managing symptoms, so prevention remains the priority. If treating fever or pain, paracetamol (acetaminophen) is generally preferred over aspirin or other anti-inflammatories until dengue has been ruled out.

How can I diagnose Zika?

Testing usually involves a blood or urine sample analysed by a specialist laboratory, most reliably within the first week of illness. Because Zika is closely related to dengue and chikungunya, antibody tests can cross-react and give false positives, so results need careful interpretation by a clinician.

References

1. Mlakar J, Korva M, Tul N, et al. Zika Virus Associated with Microcephaly. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(10):951–8. PMID 26862926

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Tags

Aedes aegypti Guillain-Barre syndrome microcephaly mosquito-borne disease pregnancy health zika prevention zika symptoms zika virus

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