Zika Virus Outbreak in India’s Rajasthan as 22 Test Positive: Health Ministry

Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been reported in Jaipur, the capital city of India’s Rajasthan state, country’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The present outbreak in Jaipur was detected through The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) surveillance system.

Till date, a total of 22 positive laboratory-confirmed cases have been detected. A control room has been activated at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to undertake regular monitoring of the situation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a release on Monday (8).

As directed by India’s health minister, JP Nadda, a seven-member high level federal team was deputed to Jaipur immediately following detection of the first case to assist Rajasthan state government in control and containment measures.

The situation is being reviewed by India’s health minister and monitored on a daily basis by the health secretary. Another high-level federal team is already placed in Jaipur since Friday (5) to further oversee and assist containment operations on the field.

All suspect cases in the defined area and mosquito samples from this area are being tested. Additional testing kits are provided to the viral research and diagnostic laboratories.

Zika virus disease is an emerging disease currently being reported by 86 countries worldwide. Symptoms of Zika virus disease are similar to other viral infections such as dengue and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache.

In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad during the January-February period of 2017 and the second outbreak in July, last year from Krishnagiri district located in country’s Southern State Tamil Nadu. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management.

The disease continues to be on disease surveillance radars of federal health ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern vide World Health Organisation notification since November 18, 2016.