Zika Virus Countries

Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, is not harmful to most people. However, if a pregnant woman is bitten by a mosquito that is carrying Zika, the baby can be born with birth defects, including microcephaly (an abnormally small head). If Zika is present in your country, you don’t need to be alarmed unless you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, speak with your doctor about the most effective means of preventing Zika.

The risk of contracting Zika today is minimal, as eradication efforts have been active at containing its spread. There are three categories regarding a country’s risk of Zika: current or past transmission but no current outbreak, Zika-carrying mosquitoes present but no reported cases, and no Zika-carrying mosquitoes.

Current or Past Cases of Zika

Many countries in the Western hemisphere reported cases of Zika at the height of the outbreak. These countries included the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, the Falkland Islands, and Bolivia.

Several countries in Africa and Asia reported cases of Zika. In Asia, those countries were India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Fiji. In Africa, those countries were Ethiopia, Burundi, Uganda, Central African Republic (CAR), Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.

Again, these countries have had cases of Zika in the past but currently do not have any outbreaks. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant and plan to visit any of these countries, speak to your doctor about how to prevent Zika.

Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes: Present

There are many countries, particularly in the Eastern hemisphere, that have mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus but have not had any reported cases of Zika infection. In the Western region, the only country in this category is Uruguay. All other countries – except Chile, Canada, and the Danish territory of Greenland – have had reported cases of Zika.

In Europe, the only country that has Zika-carrying mosquitoes present is Georgia. Russia and Turkey, which are partially in Europe but mostly in Asia, also have Zika-carrying mosquitoes but no reported cases. All other European countries are free of Zika.

In Asia and Africa, several countries have Zika-carrying mosquitoes but no cases of human infection. They include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. In Africa, those countries include Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Congo, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt, Chad, Niger, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Australia also has Zika-carrying mosquitoes but no reported cases.

No Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes

All countries not previously listed have no history of Zika-carrying misquotes or of Zika infections. In the Western hemisphere, those countries include Chile, Canada, and the Danish territory of Greenland. In Europe, those countries include all but Georgia and the portions of Russia and Turkey that are in Europe.

In Asia, countries with no history of Zika include Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. In Africa, those countries include Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. New Zealand has no history of Zika.