Zika in the state of Maharashtra, India

Level 4 - Avoid All Travel
Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel
Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions
Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions
map of affected area in India
Map: Affected area in India (see larger map)
What is Zika?

Zika is a disease caused by infection with Zika virus and typically occurs in tropical and subtropical areas in parts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Western Pacific.

Zika virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. It can also be spread through sex from a person who is infected with Zika virus to their sexual partner. Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant person to their fetus.

Many people infected with Zika virus will not have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and red eyes. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.

Key points

  • There is an outbreak of Zika in the state of Maharashtra, India (see map).
  • Zika virus can be spread through mosquito bites, passed from a pregnant person to their fetus, and spread person to person through sex.
  • Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
  • All travelers to Maharashtra should take steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission of Zika virus during and after travel.
  • If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, talk to your doctor about your risk of Zika virus infection, the possible health effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, and ways to protect yourself.
  • If you are pregnant, you should avoid travel to Maharashtra. If travel is unavoidable, you should strictly follow Zika prevention recommendations.
  • If you are planning pregnancy, you should delay pregnancy following travel based on the timeframes to prevent sexual transmission.
  • Travelers to Maharashtra should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, rash, headache, joint or muscle pain, or red eyes during or after travel.

Traveler Information

Clinician Information