Frequently Asked Questions

Most people who are infected were bitten by an infected mosquito. There has been one report of the possible spread of the virus through blood transfusion and a few reports of sexual transmission.

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and last several days to a week.

Anyone who is living in or traveling to an area where the Zika virus is found, who has not already been infected with the Zika virus, is at risk for infection.

Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

Zika virus can be passed from the mother to her baby during pregnancy. This mode of transmission is being investigated. To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika through breastfeeding, although the virus has been identified in breast milk. Because the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of acquiring Zika, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed, even in areas where the Zika virus is found.

To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika through breastfeeding. Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even in areas where the Zika virus is found. Mothers who are breastfeeding in areas where the Zika virus is found should practice mosquito prevention measures such as using insect repellent.

There has been one report of the possible spread of the virus through blood transfusion and a few reports of sexual transmission, but the primary method of transmitting Zika is through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Guidance is pending from the CDC on the Zika virus and sexual transmission.

We do not know the exact risk to the baby if a woman is infected with the Zika virus while she is pregnant. However, Zika virus infection does not pose a risk of birth defects in future pregnancies. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week. The virus will not cause infections in a baby that is conceived after the virus is cleared from the blood.

No. If infected, the Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week. The virus will not cause infections in a baby that is conceived after the virus is cleared from the blood.