India: WHO confirms first 3 cases of Zika virus
Indian government issues guidelines to deal with Zika virus
By Shuriah Niazi
NEW DELHI
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the first three cases of Zika virus disease in India.
All the three cases were reported from Ahmedabad city of Gujarat state. Two pregnant women were found to be infected with Zika virus.
These cases were detected between last November and February this year. The global health body has confirmed it now.
“These findings suggest
It further said, “Zika virus is known to be circulating in South East Asia Region and these findings do not change the global risk assessment”.
However,
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told NDTV that the three patients had no overseas travel and so the infection could have been acquired locally. "There is no need to panic. All three cases recovered," she said.
Indian Health
The disease is spread by mosquitoes and infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects in newborns.
In India 50,000 samples have been taken to test Zika virus.
The disease was first reported from Brazil in 2015 and after which it spread to more than 60 countries.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.