Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Zika virus is mainly transmitted by mosquitos.
- Most people who get Zika virus have mild or no symptoms.
- Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant person to their baby, which can have serious consequences.
- Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners. Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex.
- Zika virus is not present in Australia. Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific.
- There is no cure, specific treatment, or vaccine for Zika virus.
- The best defence against Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites if you are travelling in a country with active Zika virus transmission. Talk to a health care provider about your individual risk if you are planning to fall pregnant.
On this page
About Zika virus
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a mosquito-borne disease, transmitted by bites from some species of Aedes mosquito, particularly Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes usually bite in the day, particularly around dawn and dusk.
There are usually no symptoms, but in around one-fifth of cases the infection can cause an illness with fever, rash, itchy red eyes, headache and muscle pain.
Illness from Zika is usually not severe and does not normally require hospitalisation.
Infection with Zika virus in pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or serious birth defects in the newborn, including microcephaly (abnormally small head and brain).
In rare cases Zika virus infection can lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder.
Outbreaks of Zika virus have occurred in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. All cases of Zika virus detected in Australia have been in travellers returning from overseas.
There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes if you are in a country currently affected by Zika virus.
History of Zika virus
Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys.
The first human cases were detected in 1952.
Numerous outbreaks of Zika virus have been reported around the world since 2007.
In 2015 and 2016 a large outbreak beginning in Brazil spread to neighbouring regions, leading the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. This outbreak has since declined, however smaller outbreaks are still regularly detected in various countries worldwide.
Symptoms of Zika virus
Symptoms usually develop within 2 weeks of someone being exposed to Zika virus. Most people do not develop symptoms. When symptoms are present, they are usually mild and can last from a few days up to a week.
Symptoms can include:
Zika virus complications
Zika virus infection during pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects, including microcephaly (abnormally small head and brain) in newborns.
Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, has been linked to Zika virus infection in some cases.
Spread of infection
Zika virus is usually transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti. This is the same mosquito that transmits the viral infections dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact, from mother to child during pregnancy, and rarely via blood transfusion or organ transplantation.
Diagnosis of Zika virus
Zika virus infection is diagnosed through:
- medical history, including a travel history to look for any exposure in a country with active Zika transmission in the 2 weeks prior to illness
- physical examination, to look for evidence of the infection
- blood and other laboratory tests.
Treatment for Zika virus
Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild.
Currently, there is no cure or specific treatment for Zika virus. Treatment aims to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of complications while the person recovers.
If you have visited a country with active Zika virus transmission and have symptoms that could be caused by Zika infection, you should seek medical care and advice, especially as there could be other causes of your symptoms.
People diagnosed with Zika virus infection should:
- get plenty of rest
- drink enough fluids
- treat pain and fever with common medicines such as paracetamol.
Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs unless advised by your doctor.
If symptoms worsen, seek further medical care and advice.
Prevention of Zika virus
There is currently no vaccine available to protect against Zika virus.
All travellers to currently or potentially affected areas should take the following measures to prevent mosquito bites:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Use insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin. Always use as directed. Insect repellents containing DEET and picaridin are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding people and children older than 2 months when used according to the product label.
- Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).
- Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms. Sleep under a mosquito bed net if screened-in or air-conditioned rooms are not available.
The Australian Government's Smartraveller website has important travel advice for pregnant people, people trying to get pregnant and other travellers.
Pregnant people and people trying to get pregnant, as well as their sexual partners, should consider deferring non-essential travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission.
People travelling to areas with Zika transmission should consider using condoms or abstaining from sex while travelling and for a period after returning home to avoid transmitting Zika virus. This is especially important for male partners of people who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Discuss your individual risk with your doctor.
Which countries are affected by Zika virus?
The most up to date information on countries experiencing active Zika virus transmission is available on the Smartraveller website.
People planning travel are advised to check whether the country they are planning to visit has active Zika virus transmission.
The mosquito species that can carry Zika virus are found in parts of northern Queensland. However, no-one is known to have been infected with Zika virus within Australia.
Where to get help
- Your GP (doctor)
- Community health centre
- Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit (Public Health Branch), Department of Health, Victoria Government Tel. 1300 651 160
- healthdirect – Zika virus
- Zika virus, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Zika virus, World Health Organization.
- Infectious diseases, Smartraveller, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.
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