Zika and Travel: What You Need to Know

How can I protect myself?

The W.H.O. suggests a number of ways to protect your skin while in an area with Zika transmission, including wearing light-colored clothing that covers as much of the body as possible and using mosquito repellent. If you use repellent and sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and then the repellent, the guidelines say.

“Avoid exposing the skin, the least skin you have exposed, the odds of being bitten reduce a lot,” Dr. Marques said.

Physical barriers go a long way in protecting against mosquito bites. While traveling in affected areas, keep doors and windows closed and sleep under mosquito nets. The guidelines also recommend using insecticide-treated netting materials on doors and windows.

To avoid risk of sexual transmission of Zika while traveling, men and women should practice safer sex, including the consistent use of condoms, or abstinence.

“It’s not just Zika to think about,” said Dr. Adhikari. “There are destinations that might have other diseases that are potentially a bigger deal like dengue, yellow fever, malaria chikungunya. That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor exactly where you intend to go.”

What about when I get back?

W. H. O. recommends that travelers who have returned from a trip and develop a rash, fever, painful joints or red eyes should contact their physicians, inform their provider of their travel history and get laboratory testing and clinical care as indicated.

That can help with the overall tracking of the spread of Zika, too, since many of the countries where it has been identified lack the public health infrastructure needed to identify new cases.