The World Health Organization has declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern due to its rapid spread and link to Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly. Currently there is no vaccine or drug treatment for this virus.

While death is rare, one in five people infected with Zika virus may develop the following symptoms:

• Mild fever
• Conjunctivitis
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Rash

As of May 26, 2016, the following countries and territories report active Zika virus transmission, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Venezuela in the Americas; American Samoa, Fiji, Kosrae - Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga in Oceania; and Cape Verde in Africa.

If you are planning travel to locations with reported cases of Zika, text 'PLAN' to 855-255-5606 for Zika travel updates from the CDC.

For more information online pertaining to Zika virus and its link to Guillain-Barre syndrome or microcephaly, please visit NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ page on Zika Resources for Education Abroad at www.nafsa.org.

Read the Office of International Education’s statement on Zika virus here.