Preventing Zika: Mosquito Bites and Sex

Zika virus disease can be prevented two ways: by avoiding mosquito bites, and by using condoms or not having sex with someone who may be infected.

Mosquito bites

The mosquitoes that spread Zika bite day and night. To prevent bites:

• use an EPA-registered insect repellent;
• wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants;
• control mosquitoes inside and out — window screens, for example.

Coming home from a Zika area? Keep preventing bites for 3 weeks, even if you feel fine, so you don't pass the virus to mosquitoes at home. See also preventing bites while traveling.

Sex

An infected person can pass Zika to partners through vaginal, anal or oral sex and by sharing sex toys — even in a committed relationship with one partner. They can pass it with or without symptoms: many infected people have no symptoms or only mild ones and never know, and the virus can spread before, during and after symptoms.

How long to take precautions

The clock starts when the person returns from travel — even without symptoms — or when their symptoms began, or when they were diagnosed.

The periods differ because the virus can stay in semen longer than in other body fluids.

How to protect yourself

• Condoms — male or female — lower the chance of getting Zika from sex, used for vaginal, anal and oral sex and when sharing sex toys.
• Dental dams can be used for some kinds of oral sex (mouth to vagina or mouth to anus).
• Not sharing sex toys lowers the risk.
• Not having sex removes the risk.

Testing is not recommended as a way to judge how likely someone is to spread Zika through sex.

Traveling or living abroad?

Check whether your destination has an active Travel Health Notice and what its risk classification is, then follow CDC's recommendations for that level of risk.

Sources

Based on "Prevention," Zika virus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The stock photos on the original page are left out.