Zika facts before you fly south
Your latest questions answered
Answers collected from updated reports by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accessed on August 29, 2016. For the most up to date information, please visit: Canada.ca/zika-virus
With reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in popular holiday destinations like Florida as well as the Caribbean and Mexico, public health officials recommend pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy avoid those areas. All other travellers are advised to review the recommendations below. The Government of Canada keeps an updated and detailed list of countries where there is reported Zika virus transmission.
What is Zika and how do people get infected?
Zika is a virus transmitted to people by a Zika-infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that transmit Zika virus are the same as those that spread the chikungunya and dengue viruses. The virus can also be spread by sexual transmission through semen from infected men; an infected, pregnant woman to her developing baby; and/or cell, blood and tissue donations from infected donors.
What are the complications of Zika?
Although rare, complications can include birth defects in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy and/or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week. There is currently no evidence that the virus will cause infections in a baby conceived after the virus is cleared from the blood of an infected mother; or poses a risk of birth defects for future pregnancies.
What are the signs and symptoms of Zika virus?
The main symptoms of Zika virus disease include:
- a flat, red rash on the skin covered with small bumps
- the rash often starts on the face and spreads to the body
- red eyes
- general symptoms, such as:
- weakness
- headaches
- lack of energy
- short-term muscle or joint pain
- possible joint swelling, mainly in the smaller joints of the hands and feet
- low-grade fever (38.5°C or lower)
Symptoms of Zika virus disease can be similar to other mosquito-transmitted viruses, such as dengue and chikungunya. However, Zika virus disease symptoms are typically milder. Only 1 in 4 people infected with Zika virus are believed to develop symptoms.
How long do symptoms last?
It usually takes between 3 to 12 days for symptoms to appear after infection. The disease symptoms are usually mild and last for 2 to 7 days. Many people do not realize they have been infected.
Am I at risk?
Based on the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Rapid Risk Assessment, the overall risk to Canadians, in Canada, is very low, as mosquitoes known to transmit the virus are not established in the country and are not well-suited to our climate.
There’s an ongoing, low level of risk to Canadians travelling to countries where there are reports of mosquito-borne infection. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that can bite in daylight and evening hours. These mosquitoes generally do not live or transmit virus at elevations above 2,000 meters.
As of September 8, 2016, 250 travel-related cases, 2 sexually transmitted cases and 2 reports of maternal-to-fetal transmission have been detected in Canada.
When should I get tested?
See a nurse or doctor if you develop symptoms, you live in or have recently travelled to an area with Zika. Your doctor or other health-care provider may order tests to look for Zika or other similar viruses like dengue or chikungunya. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
I think I have Zika. What should I do?
Pregnant patients who have travelled to affected areas should speak to their physician.
If showing symptoms, see your doctor or other health-care provider as soon as possible because testing should be done no later than 14 days following onset of illness.
If you are showing no symptoms, but recently travelled to an affected region, testing can be done, however, the efficacy of these tests when used in asymptomatic people are not known at this time.
Does Medcan provide Zika testing?
After consultation with a Medcan physician, a blood or urine sample can be obtained for testing if a patient meets the appropriate criteria. We will screen patients and fill out a Public Health Ontario form that is screened by the Public Health lab and sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory for further testing. The testing is not performed on-site at Medcan.
The incubation period for Zika virus infection is approximately 3 days to 2 weeks. Patients with current symptoms compatible with Zika virus infection should be tested by PCR if:
a. they are within 14 days of symptom onset, AND
b. onset was while in an endemic or currently affected area, or within 14 days of departure from an endemic or currently affected area,* OR
c. onset was within 14 days of sexual contact with a confirmed case of Zika virus disease
Public Health Ontario offers more detailed information on testing.
When should I see my doctor or nurse prior to planned travel?
If you’re travelling to a region where vaccines are not required (i.e. Florida, Mexico), consult your doctor or nurse at least two weeks before to discuss how to best protect yourself. If you’re travelling to a region where you’ll need vaccines, you should plan a visit at least six weeks prior to departure.
My son and daughter-in-law are trying to get pregnant. Does the Zika virus mean they can’t visit their friends and family in Florida?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy should avoid travel to countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks. If travel cannot be avoided or postponed, strict mosquito bite prevention measures should be followed due to the association between Zika virus infection and increased risk of serious health effects on their developing fetus.
My husband and I just returned from Mexico, and there is a chance I could be pregnant. What should we do?
Review the recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada for travellers returning from countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks:
- For pregnant women, if you develop symptoms that could be consistent with Zika virus infection, you should consult a health care provider.
- For women planning a pregnancy, it is strongly recommended that you wait at least 2 months before trying to conceive to ensure that any possible Zika virus infection has cleared your body.
- For male travellers, Zika virus can persist for an extended period of time in the semen of infected males, therefore:
- It is strongly recommended that, if you have a pregnant partner, you should use condoms or avoid having sex for the duration of the pregnancy.
- It is strongly recommended that you and your partner wait to conceive for 6 months by using a condom or by avoiding having sex.
- It is recommended that you should consider using condoms or avoid having sex with any partner for 6 months.
I was recently in South America, should I still use a condom?
Here is a helpful table from the CDC:
| For People Who Have Travelled to an Area with Zika | |||
| If You Have Symptoms or Were Diagnosed with Zika | If You Have No Symptoms | ||
| If you are pregnant | Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika. If you must travel to an area with Zika, talk to your healthcare provider. Learn more. | ||
| If your partner is pregnant | Use condoms correctly, every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex or do not have sex for the entire pregnancy. | ||
| If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy | Discuss your plans for pregnancy with a healthcare provider to determine your risk and the options available. | ||
| If you or your partner are not pregnant and are not planning a pregnancy |
Men – consider using condoms or not having sex for at least 6 months after symptoms begin. Women- consider using condoms or not having sex for at least 8 weeks after symptoms begin. |
Men and Women – consider using condoms or not having sex for at least 8 weeks after returning from travel. | |
I’ve heard that in areas where Zika virus is present, there is a higher likelihood of contracting Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Is that true?
GBS is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, temporary paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, though some people have permanent damage. Very few people die from GBS. The CDC reports that several countries that have experienced Zika outbreaks recently have reported increases in people who have GBS. Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS. Learn more.
Learn what you can do for treatment. Learn how you can protect others if you have Zika.
