Zika virus: transmission
Updated 2 August 2017
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1. Transmission by mosquitoes
Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, most commonly Aedes aegypti. Other species of Aedes mosquitoes may also have the potential to transmit this virus. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is not present in the UK and is unlikely to establish in the near future as the UK temperature is not consistently high enough for it to breed.
Read guidance on mosquito bite prevention while travelling to Zika affected areas.
Read UK risk assessment.
2. Transmission by other routes
While almost all cases of Zika are acquired via mosquito bites, a small number of cases have occurred through sexual transmission, and there is increasing evidence of transmission from mother to fetus via the placenta.
Read advice on preventing infection by sexual transmission.
Read advice on Zika and pregnancy.
Transmission of Zika via blood transfusion has been suspected in a small number of cases; a study during the outbreak in French Polynesia detected Zika virus in 3% of blood donors who were asymptomatic at the time of donation.
Measures to safeguard the UK blood supply were implemented from 4 February 2016.