Dengue During Pregnancy
What is Dengue?
Dengue is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. A pregnant woman already infected with dengue can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Dengue can have harmful effects, including death of the fetus, low birth weight, and premature birth.
Protect Your Pregnancy
- If possible, avoid travel to areas with risk of dengue during pregnancy. Dengue is common in over 100 countries, including countries in the tropics.
- Find out if the country you will be visiting has dengue.
- Talk to your healthcare provider before traveling.
Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
If you live in or are traveling to an area with risk of dengue:
- Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Stay in a hotel or housing with screens on windows and doors. Use air conditioning, if available.
- Take steps to control mosquitoes in and around your home.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA’s search tool.
Sick? Could it be Dengue?
See your healthcare provider, if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with dengue and have a fever and rash, aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain). Tell your healthcare provider where you traveled.
If you develop symptoms of dengue, see your healthcare provider immediately.