Plan for Travel
Before your trip
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- If you are pregnant, you should NOT travel to areas with Zika outbreaks (as indicated by red areas on Zika map). For information on domestic travel, see CDC’s guidance.
- If you or your partner are trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about your travel plans.
During your trip
Protect yourself from mosquito bites
- Strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites to protect yourself and your family.
Protect yourself during sex
- Use condoms or don’t have sex to avoid getting or spreading Zika during sex if you or your partner has traveled to an area with risk of Zika.
- The amount of time you need to take these steps depends on whether you or your partner has symptoms and whether you or your partner are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. For specific guidelines, see Protect Yourself During Sex.
Keep mosquitoes outside
- Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
- Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that does not have screens.
After your trip
Protect yourself from mosquito bites
- Even if you do not feel sick, travelers returning to the United States from an area with risk of Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks so they do not spread Zika to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people.
See a doctor or healthcare professional
- If you have symptoms of Zika after travel to an area with risk of Zika, talk to your doctor and tell him or her about your travel.
- If you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor after travel to an area with risk of Zika, even if you don’t feel sick.
- If you’re thinking about trying to become pregnant after travel to an area with risk of Zika, talk to your doctor when you return and see specific recommendations for couples trying to become pregnant.
Protect yourself during sex
- Use condoms or don’t have sex to avoid getting or spreading Zika during sex if you or your partner has traveled to an area with risk of Zika.
- The amount of time you need to take these steps depends on whether you or your partner has symptoms and whether you or your partner are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. For specific guidelines, see Protect Yourself During Sex.
Related Resources
Zika and Sexual Transmission: For People Whose Partner Traveled to an Area with Risk of Zika
Pregnant? Read this before you travel
Fact Sheets
Learn more about Zika with our fact sheets and posters.
Page last reviewed: May 21, 2019
