The number of people infected with Zika virus reaches 72 in Rajasthan, the Union Health Ministry Monday asked states to check mosquito breeding and intensify vector control strategies to contain the spread of the disease.

 

Zika is caused by Aedes aegypti mosquito which also transmits dengue and chikungunya and breeds in open stagnant water. Twelve new cases of Zika virus were detected in Jaipur Monday, taking the total number of infected people to 72. "Sixty out of the total 72 patients are healthy after treatment," a Rajasthan health department official said. Most of the cases have been reported from Shastri Nagar area in Jaipur where fogging and other anti-larvae activities are being carried out to prevent the spread of the virus, he said.

 

“More than 280 teams of health department are conducting door-to-door survey and so far 96,000 houses have been surveyed. More than 2.44 lakh containers were checked and larvae were found in more than 55,000 containers, which were treated,”. Gupta said people have to come forward and cooperate in controlling vector-borne diseases such as Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and Malaria. “We do not want to impose penalty for mosquito breeding, but are forced to as despite persuasion and creating awareness, people are still not taking it seriously and are storing water in the open,” Gupta said. So far, 68 challans have been issued and Rs 44,000 has been collected in penalty.

 

The state health department has also issued an advisory for pregnant women staying outside the affected area to not visit Shastri Nagar. The Zika virus causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than expected.

 

In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district in July 2017. Both these outbreaks were successfully controlled through intensive surveillance and vector management.