Zika virus and pregnancy: travel, trying for a baby and what to do

Zika isn’t spread in the UK, so this mostly matters if you’re planning a trip, or you’ve just come back from one. Here’s what the NHS and UK travel health guidance say, in plain words.

What is Zika?

Zika is a virus spread mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito. The NHS says it can rarely be passed on through sex with an infected person. The virus is found in parts of South and Central America, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, Africa and Asia.

The NHS says the mosquitoes that carry it are not found in the UK. In September 2026 UKHSA found a related mosquito species breeding at a few homes in east London. It rated the risk to the public as very low, said the mosquito is not established here, and said there is no evidence of Zika spreading in the UK.

Most people who catch it have few or no symptoms. When there are symptoms they are usually mild and last about 2 to 7 days. They can include a high temperature, headache, sore red eyes, joint or muscle pain, lower back pain and an itchy rash.

Why it matters in pregnancy

The NHS says Zika can seriously harm a baby if the mother has the virus during pregnancy. Possible complications include loss of the baby before birth, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with the baby’s brain, hearing or eyesight. One of these is microcephaly, where a baby’s head is unusually small.

Not every pregnancy where the mother catches Zika is affected, but it can’t be predicted at the time of infection, which is why prevention matters.

Planning to travel while pregnant or trying for a baby

The NHS says to consider avoiding travel to places where Zika is found if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon. TravelHealthPro, the UK travel health service, says that if there is a current outbreak, pregnant women should consider postponing non-essential travel until after their pregnancy. Without a current outbreak, the decision is based on a detailed discussion with your healthcare provider.

The risk is not the same everywhere, and it changes over time, so we haven’t listed countries here. TravelHealthPro rates each country as ‘risk’, ‘very low risk’ or ‘negligible risk’. Check your destination on its Country Information pages (under ‘Other Risks’) and speak to your GP, pharmacy or travel clinic, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before you go. The advice on delaying pregnancy doesn’t apply to places rated very low or negligible risk.

Lowering your chances of being bitten

The NHS advises:

Using insect repellent containing 50% DEET on your skin.
Sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Wearing loose clothing that covers your arms and legs. The mosquitoes are most active during the day.

TravelHealthPro asks pregnant women and their partners to be careful with bite avoidance both indoors and outdoors, in the daytime and at night. Ask a pharmacist or travel clinic which repellent is suitable for you in pregnancy.

How long to wait before trying for a baby

If you have been to a place where Zika is found, TravelHealthPro and UKHSA give these waiting times before trying to conceive, and the NHS gives matching periods for using condoms. During that time, use condoms or another barrier method:

You travelled on your own (female): wait 2 months after you return (or after your last possible exposure).
Your male partner travelled, alone or with you: wait 3 months after he returns (or after his last possible exposure).
You had Zika-like symptoms: TravelHealthPro advises avoiding pregnancy for 2 months after the symptoms began.

If you or your partner are already pregnant, the NHS says to use condoms during and after travel to a risk country, and for the rest of the pregnancy. TravelHealthPro advises condoms for the whole pregnancy if your partner travelled, even if nobody had symptoms.

If you’re pregnant and have been to a risk area

TravelHealthPro says pregnant travellers should see their GP or midwife when they get back from a risk area, even if they haven’t been unwell. The NHS says to contact your GP urgently or call NHS 111 if you have recently travelled to a risk country and have symptoms, or if you or your partner are pregnant or become pregnant within 3 months of returning.

A midwife or obstetrician will talk through the risk with you. They may arrange a blood test and ultrasound scans to check your baby’s growth and development, and you may be referred to a specialist. UKHSA says that if you had no symptoms, you don’t usually need a Zika test, but you should still tell your midwife about the trip.

There is no specific treatment for Zika. The NHS says to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take pain relief such as paracetamol.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have recently travelled to a risk country and have numbness, pins and needles, or muscle weakness or pain in your hands or feet that spreads to your arms and legs. Zika can rarely cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious condition affecting the nerves.

If you’re worried about something that has already happened, please talk to your midwife or GP. They will look at your own situation, and in most trips the risk is low.

Questions people ask

Can you catch Zika in the UK?

No cases are known to have been caught in the UK. UKHSA says the risk comes from travel, or very rarely from sex with someone who has been infected. The NHS says the mosquitoes that carry Zika are not found in the UK, and in September 2026 UKHSA found a related species breeding in east London and rated the public risk as very low.

Is there a vaccine for Zika?

There is no Zika vaccine in UK travel guidance, so prevention depends on avoiding bites and, when advised, using condoms. A travel clinic can tell you if anything has changed.

I travelled before I knew I was pregnant. What should I do?

If you had no symptoms, a test usually isn’t needed, but do tell your midwife or GP. Call NHS 111 if you have symptoms or are worried. The NHS says to get urgent advice if you or your partner are pregnant or become pregnant within 3 months of returning from a risk country.

Can I fly to a place with a Zika risk for work?

That is a decision to make with your GP, midwife or a travel clinic, using the current risk rating for the place. TravelHealthPro says pregnant women should discuss any travel with their healthcare provider.