Mosquito-borne infections in pregnancy: Zika, Oropouche and staying safe abroad

Most mosquito bites are just itchy and annoying. But in some parts of the world, mosquitoes and other biting insects carry infections that can be more serious when you're pregnant.

A few can even affect your baby's development.

Why bites matter more in pregnancy

You're no more likely to be bitten when you're pregnant. But some infections can be passed to your baby in the womb, and others, like malaria and dengue, can make you more seriously ill than usual.

Zika Virus

What is it? Zika is a virus spread mainly by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. These mosquitoes mostly bite during the day. Zika can also be passed on through sex.

What are the symptoms? Most people with Zika have no symptoms at all. If you do get symptoms, they're usually mild and can include:

• A mild fever
• A rash
• Red, sore eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Aching muscles and joints
• Feeling generally unwell

Symptoms usually appear within two weeks of being bitten and pass within a week.

Why does it matter in pregnancy? Zika infection during pregnancy can cause problems with a baby's brain development, including microcephaly, where a baby's head is smaller than expected. This group of problems is known as congenital Zika syndrome. Because many people don't have symptoms, you can't rely on feeling well as a sign you haven't been infected.

Where is it found? Zika has been reported in parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, South and South East Asia and Africa. Each country is given its own risk rating, and these change over time, so always check the latest advice for your destination on the TravelHealthPro website before you book.

If you're pregnant UK advice is to:

• Postpone any non-essential travel to areas at high risk of Zika until after your baby is born
• Think about postponing non-essential travel to moderate-risk areas until after your pregnancy
• Talk to your GP, midwife or a travel clinic if you're thinking of travelling to any area with a Zika risk

If your partner has travelled to a Zika-risk area, use condoms every time you have sex for the rest of your pregnancy, even if they feel fine.

• 2 months after you get home, if only the woman travelled
• 3 months after you get home, if the male partner travelled (whether or not you travelled together)

This applies even if neither of you had any symptoms. Use reliable contraception and condoms during this time. If you're hoping to get pregnant very soon, you may decide it's easier to choose a different destination.

Oropouche virus

Oropouche is an infection you may not have heard of, but it's been spreading in South America and the Caribbean since 2024, with outbreaks in places including Brazil, Cuba, Colombia and Panama. The first UK cases were confirmed in 2025, all in people who'd travelled abroad.

How is it spread? Mainly by tiny biting midges, and sometimes by mosquitoes. The insects that spread it aren't found in the UK, so you can't catch it here.

What are the symptoms? Symptoms are similar to flu and can include a sudden fever, headache, and aching muscles and joints. Some people feel better and then get symptoms again a few days later.

Why does it matter in pregnancy? There are concerns that Oropouche can be passed from mum to baby during pregnancy, so UK health experts advise pregnant travellers to take particular care. If you're pregnant and thinking about travelling to an affected area, speak to your GP or a travel clinic before you go.

The virus has also been found in semen, so as a precaution, travellers can use condoms or avoid sex during travel and for six weeks afterwards.

Dengue and chikungunya

Dengue and chikungunya are both spread by the same daytime-biting mosquitoes as Zika. They're common in lots of popular holiday destinations, including parts of Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and Latin America. In recent summers there have also been cases picked up locally in parts of southern Europe.

Dengue causes a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and aching muscles and joints. It can be more serious during pregnancy.

Chikungunya causes a sudden fever and painful joints. Most people recover within a couple of weeks, but joint pain can sometimes last for months. UK cases in travellers more than doubled in the first half of 2025, mainly in people returning from countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Malaria

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes that mainly bite from dusk until dawn. It's found in many tropical countries, including large parts of Africa, Asia and South America.

Malaria is much more dangerous in pregnancy. It can make you very ill and increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. For this reason, pregnant women are usually advised to avoid travelling to malaria areas altogether.

If you really can't avoid the trip, speak to a travel clinic well in advance about anti-malaria tablets that are safe to take in pregnancy.

How to avoid insect bites

Whatever your destination, preventing bites is the best protection. Remember that the mosquitoes that spread Zika, dengue and chikungunya bite during the day, while malaria mosquitoes bite at night, so you need to protect yourself around the clock.

Use an insect repellent

• Repellents containing DEET work best. DEET at up to 50% strength is safe to use when you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Put on your sun cream first (SPF 30 to 50), then apply repellent on top. DEET can make sun cream less effective, so you may need a higher SPF.
• Reapply as directed on the label, especially after swimming or sweating.
• If you're breastfeeding, avoid putting repellent on or near your nipples, and wash it off your hands before handling your baby.

Cover up

• Wear loose, long-sleeved tops and long trousers or skirts, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Light-coloured clothing makes it easier to spot insects.
• Protect your room
• Choose accommodation with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
• Sleep under a mosquito net if your room isn't screened, ideally one treated with insecticide.

What doesn't work well: Wristbands, ultrasonic devices and "natural" plant-oil repellents haven't been shown to give reliable protection, so don't rely on them.

Before you book

• Check your destination. The TravelHealthPro website has up-to-date health advice and risk ratings for every country.
• Get advice early. See your GP, practice nurse or a travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. Tell them you're pregnant or trying for a baby.
• Talk to your midwife. They can help you think through whether a trip is a good idea at your stage of pregnancy.
• Check your travel insurance. Make sure it covers pregnancy and any medical care you might need abroad.

When you get home

• If you're pregnant and you've been to a Zika-risk area, tell your GP or midwife when you get back, even if you feel completely well.
• If you feel unwell after visiting a country with malaria, get urgent medical advice the same day. Malaria can become serious very quickly.
• If you develop a fever, rash or aching joints, or just feel unwell, contact your GP or midwife and tell them every country you've visited.

Key things to remember

• Zika, Oropouche, dengue, chikungunya and malaria can all be more serious when you're pregnant.
• If you're pregnant, it's safest to postpone non-essential trips to high-risk Zika and malaria areas.
• If you're trying for a baby and visit a Zika-risk area, wait 2 to 3 months before trying to conceive.
• DEET repellent at up to 50% is safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Protect yourself from bites day and night.
• Always tell your GP or midwife where you've been if you feel unwell after travel.

If you have any questions about travelling in pregnancy, you can chat to one of our midwives through Ask a Midwife in the Bounty app.