Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquito bites you can also get zika through sex many areas in the united states have the type of mosquitoes that can spread zika virus these mosquitoes bite during the day and night. What you need to know about zika virus harvard health blog harvard health publishing although the impact of zika in the us is expected to be much less severe than in warmer climates here are tips to reduce your exposure. Fever rash nausea joint and muscle pain headaches and redness of the eyes are all signs of a zika infection the only way to know for sure though is by getting a blood test there have been instances of people developing guillain barre syndrome several weeks after a zika infection but it is rare says dr simor. The zika virus can remain in the semen of infected men for a prolonged period of time be spread by an infected man with or without symptoms to his sexual partner s be spread sexually from a man to a woman who may then pass it to her unborn baby and can cause serious birth defects