The presence of Zika virus has been confirmed by five zika virus strains which have been isolated from patients in Jaipur. It poses a much real risk for the population.
The virus in India lacks a particular gene linked to foetal microcephaly (babies born with abnormally small heads), and so at present, this not a risk, stated the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The vector-virus relationship studies with chikungunya and dengue, caused by the same type of mosquito, have suggested that in due course of time it will spread and become a major public health concern, stated epidemiologists.
“There are 159 positive cases of Zika virus in Rajasthan. The numbers may be small for a large country like India, but it has confirmed that the virus is present in the air as was suspected earlier. This is India’s third outbreak of zika in the past two years which means that we need to be alert and there must be a better diagnosis,” stated a senior doctor in the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.