Zika virus: Prevention and risks

The Public Health Agency of Canada has updated the recommendation for travellers visiting countries or areas with risk of Zika virus and the classification of countries according to risk or potential risk of Zika virus.

• PHAC no longer recommends that pregnant women or women who are trying to conceive avoid travelling to countries or areas with risk of Zika virus. Instead, they are advised to discuss potential travel with a health care professional, and may choose to avoid or postpone travel to these areas. PHAC continues to recommend that pregnant women avoid travelling to areas with a current Zika virus outbreak.
• The country classification scheme has been updated and aligns with the World Health Organization classification scheme. This scheme categorizes countries according to the presence or absence of current or historical reported Zika virus transmission.

On this page

• How Zika virus is spread
• How to prevent Zika virus
• Travelling to a country or area with risk of Zika virus
• Returning from a country or area with risk of Zika virus
• Who is most at risk
• Zika virus cases in Canada

How Zika virus is spread

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.

It can also spread by:

• Sexual contact with someone infected with Zika virus.
  • Zika virus can be spread by semen, vaginal fluid and blood.
  • A person infected with Zika virus can pass the virus to a sexual partner through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex as well as the sharing of sex toys.
• A pregnant woman infected with Zika virus passing the virus to her unborn baby.
• A person infected with Zika virus who donates cells, blood, tissue, semen or organs.

Zika virus can be spread even by people who don't have symptoms.

To find out if your destination is a country or area with risk of Zika virus, consult the Travel Advice and Advisories page, and select your destination. Information on diseases spread by insects, such as Zika virus, is found under the 'Health' tab.

How to prevent Zika virus

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times while travelling. The mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite during the day and night. They are generally not found at altitudes above 2,000 metres. Be sure to:
  • Use approved insect repellent and apply it properly.
  • Cover up by wearing light-coloured, loose clothing, long pants and tucked-in long-sleeved shirts with closed-toe shoes or boots and a hat.
  • Sleep in indoor areas that are completely enclosed or well-screened.
  • Use mosquito netting (bed net) when sleeping outdoors or staying in a building that is not completely enclosed and cover playpens, cribs or strollers.
  • Learn more about mosquito bite prevention for travellers.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact with anyone potentially infected with Zika virus
  • Protect yourself from contact with semen, vaginal fluid and blood during travel in countries or areas with risk of Zika virus.
  • Protect yourself from contact with semen of travellers returning from countries or areas with risk of Zika virus for 3 months after travel or onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer).
  • Use condoms (male or female) or dental dams during sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral sex as well as the sharing of sex toys).
  • If you are pregnant, always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact with anyone who has travelled to a country or area with risk of Zika virus for the duration of the pregnancy.

Travelling to a country or area with risk of Zika virus

Before travel

• Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic at least 6 weeks before travel

During your trip

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Protect yourself from contact with semen, vaginal fluid and blood.
• Always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact.

If you are pregnant,

• Avoid travelling to a country or area with a current Zika virus outbreak.
• Visit a health care professional at least 6 weeks before travelling to discuss the potential risks of travelling to a country or area with risk of Zika virus. Pregnant women may choose to avoid or postpone travel to these areas.
• If you choose to travel:
  • Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times
  • Always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact with anyone who has travelled to a country or area with risk of Zika virus for the duration of the pregnancy.

Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Infected men with or without symptoms, can carry Zika virus in their semen for a prolonged period of time. Partners should be aware of the risk so they can make informed travel decisions and take appropriate precautions.

Returning from a country or area with risk of Zika virus

Women

• See a health care professional if you had or currently have symptoms of Zika virus infection.
• Tell your health care professional:
  • where you have been living or travelling, and
  • if you have had unprotected sexual contact with someone who could be infected with Zika virus.
• Always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact for 2 months after travel or after onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer).
• Before trying for a pregnancy, wait 2 months after travel or after onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer), to reduce the risk of passing the virus to your unborn baby. If your male partner travelled with you, wait 3 months after travel or after onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer), to reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
• If you are pregnant, always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact with anyone who has travelled to a country or area with risk of Zika virus for the entire duration of the pregnancy.

Men

• See a health care professional if you had or currently have symptoms of Zika virus infection.
• Tell your health care professional:
  • where you have been living or travelling, and
  • if you have had unprotected sexual contact with someone who could be infected with Zika virus.
• If you have a pregnant partner, use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact for the duration of the pregnancy.
• Before trying for a pregnancy or donating semen, wait 3 months after travel or after onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer), to reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
• In all other situations, always use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact for 3 months after travel or after onset of illness due to Zika virus (whichever is longer).

Men and women wishing to donate blood following travel should visit the Canadian Blood Services or Héma-Québec websites for more information.

Who is most at risk

A developing unborn baby of a mother infected during pregnancy is at greatest risk. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects including microcephaly (an abnormally small head), brain abnormalities, vision and hearing loss. When some of these birth defects are present together, the condition is called congenital Zika syndrome (CZS).

Special care to protect a developing unborn baby from exposure to Zika virus must be taken by:

• pregnant women
• those planning a pregnancy
• sexual partners of those who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy

Zika virus cases in Canada

Within Canada, the risk of getting Zika virus is very low. All reported cases have been related to travel (directly or indirectly).

Zika virus cases started being detected in the Americas in 2015. The outbreaks in the Caribbean, Central and South America peaked in 2016. Since then the number of cases have decreased dramatically. Between June 2015 and December 31, 2018:

• 582 travel-related cases have been reported in Canada

Between 2016 and 2018, 47 pregnant women have tested positive for Zika virus in Canada. Less than 5 cases of congenital Zika syndrome have been detected.