Zika virus is a type of germ. It is carried by a particular type of mosquito (Aedes aegypti). If you are bitten by this type of mosquito, you could become infected with Zika virus. For most people, this causes a very mild illness. You may not even be aware you have Zika virus.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/travel-and-vaccinations/zika-virus-leaflet