Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Protect Yourself & Others

a husband with his hand on his pregnant wife's stomach

Use the tips below to protect yourself & others from Zika


a bottle of insect repellent

Prevent mosquito bites

  • Zika virus is spread to people mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito.
  • Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite mostly during the day, but they can also bite at night.
  • The best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

What you can do


a passport

Plan for travel

What you can do


a box of condoms

Protect yourself during sex

  • Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners.
  • Studies are underway to find out how long Zika stays in the semen and vaginal fluids of people who have Zika, and how long it can be passed to sex partners. We know that Zika can remain in semen longer than in other body fluids, including vaginal fluids, urine, and blood.  

What you can do

  • Not having sex can eliminate the risk of getting Zika from sex.
  • Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex.
    • Condoms include male and female condoms.
    • To be effective, condoms should be used from start to finish, every time during vaginal, anal, and oral sex and the sharing of sex toys.
    • Dental dams (latex or polyurethane sheets) may also be used for certain types of oral sex (mouth to vagina or mouth to anus).
  • Learn how to protect yourself during sex.

 


a bag full of Zika prevention products

Build a Zika Prevention Kit

What you can do

  • If you live in a state or area with the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus and you are concerned about Zika, learn how to build your own Zika Prevention Kit.

a pregnant couple with their parents

If you have Zika, protect others

  • During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.
  • Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her partners. Sex includes vaginal, anal and oral sex, and the sharing of sex toys.

What you can do

Related Resources

Related Resources

Fact Sheets

Learn more about Zika with our fact sheets and posters.

More

TOP