Centre Issues Advisory to States After Zika Virus Cases Reported from Maharashtra

New Delhi: The Centre issued an advisory to States following reports of Zika virus cases in Maharashtra.

The States have been directed to screen pregnant women for Zika virus infection and are urged to monitor the growth of foetus of expecting mothers who test positive for Zika infection. The States have also been asked to advise health facilities/hospitals to identify a nodal officer to monitor and act to keep the premises free from Aedes mosquitoes.

The States have been directed to strengthen entomological surveillance and to intensify vector control activities in residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions and health facilities to check Zika virus infections.

Zika is transmitted through Aedes mosquitoes. This Dengue and Chikungunya like disease is non-fatal. But it can lead to microcephaly (reduced head size) of babies born to affected pregnant women.

India’s first Zika infection was reported from Gujarat in 2016. Later Zika positive cases were reported from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Karnataka.