Public Health Agency of Canada Recommendations For Travelers
The Public Health Agency of Canada has recommended the following for individuals traveling to, or returning from Zika infected areas
- Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.
- Pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy should avoid travel to countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks.
- 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.
- Travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites at all times, as the Zika virus is transmitted by a mosquito that can bite in daylight and evening hours. These mosquitoes generally do not live or transmit disease at elevations above 2,000 meters.
- Most people who have Zika virus illness will have mild symptoms that resolve with simple supportive care. If you are pregnant, or you have underlying medical conditions, or you develop more serious symptoms that could be consistent with Zika virus infection, you should see a health care provider and tell them where you have been travelling or living.