An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak

The countries and territories are: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname and Venezuela. 

Pregnant Women Are Most Affected

The CDC warning, issued Friday morning, advises pregnant women in any trimester to avoid traveling to these areas, if possible. Women who want to become pregnant should also first consult with a health care provider before going.

If travel is unavoidable, the CDC says, pregnant women and women who want to become pregnant should follow the strictest protocols to guard against mosquito bites. This means using products with active ingredients like DEET or picaridin on exposed skin. (The CDC says these products are considered safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.)

The agency also advises wearing long sleeves and pants and sleeping in air-conditioned, screened-in rooms.

Zika Travels Well 

Zika virus started popping up across Africa and in some Asian countries in the decades after it was discovered. However, because the virus’ symptoms seemed relatively mild — temporary fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes — it wasn’t considered much of a threat compared to other mosquito-borne diseases.