Zika virus outbreak hits Indian

Indian authorities have put the northern Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh on high health alert in the wake of a Zika virus outbreak
in Rajasthan state, according to Xinhua news agency.

A senior health official said Monday all hospitals in Uttar
Pradesh had been asked to be extra vigilant on people suffering
from fever as the northern state could be the next after Rajasthan
where over 100 cases have been reported so far.

Meanwhile, the state’s director of communicable diseases,
Mithilesh Chaturvedi said there was a need to keep strict watch on
people suffering from fever as the Aedes aegypti, the mosquito
spreading the Zika virus, “is widely prevalent” in the northern
state.

Chaturvedi has advised airports to take preventive measures
particularly in dealing with passengers from Rajasthan.

“There should be proper examination of passengers complaining of
fever, maculopapular rash or any other associated symptom,” he told
the media.

NAN