No case of Zika virus reported in India: Government

NEW DELHI: Till date, no case of Zika virus disease has been reported in India even as dengue-hit states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been alerted as the same type of mosquito spreads both the viruses, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Health Minister J P Nadda said during Question Hour that "till date, this disease (zika) is not reported from India."

He said the government and various agencies are constantly monitoring the situation to ensure that there is no outbreak of the disease.

Nadda said states where "dengue transmission is on" -- Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry -- have been alerted as the mosquito which transmits dengue also transmits zika virus.

Among the various steps undertaken to check zika, the National AIDS Control Organisation has issued advisory to blood banks and potential blood donors to prevent transmission of the virus infection through blood transfusion.

In the Rajya Sabha also during Zero Hour, Vivek Gupta ( Trinamool Congress) said the government was silent on zika and the Health Ministry had no information on the infection.

Claiming that it is spreading fast in Asia, he pointed out that the last survey of zika was held in India in 1952.

He wondered whether the government will wait for the outbreak to take place before outbreak before initiating steps.