NEW DELHI: Health authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation in Gujarat where three of the 36,613 human samples tested positive for the presence of Zika virus as confirmed by laboratory cases reported from Ahmedabad.
Stating that there was no let-up in the vigilance and surveillance on the issue, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said this was being done despite the withdrawal by World Health Organisation of the notification for Zika being Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on November 18 last year.
The Government has in its response to the possible outbreak of Zika virus disease, prepared and shared with states the national guidelines and Action Plan (with scenario based approach) on the disease to contain its spread, an official notification said.
An inter-ministerial task force has been set up under Chairmanship of Secretary (Health & FW) with Secretary (Bio?Technology), Secretary (Department of Health Research) as members.
The Joint Monitoring Group, a technical group under DGHS, has been tasked to monitor emerging and re-emerging diseases is regularly reviewing the situation on Zika virus disease.
Among the measures are displaying signage providing information for travellers on Zika virus at all international airports/ports and to report if they are returning from any of the affected countries and suffering from febrile illness.
An Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is tracking for clustering of acute febrile illness in the community. It has also sensitised its state and district rapid response teams.
In addition to National Institute of Virology, Pune, and NCDC, Delhi, 25 laboratories have been strengthened by Indian Council of Medical Research for laboratory diagnosis.
Three entomological laboratories are conducting Zika virus testing on mosquito samples. Staff of six more laboratories staff have been trained for vector surveillance for Zika virus.
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is monitoring microcephaly from 55 sentinel sites. As of now, no increase in number of cases / clustering of microcephaly has been reported from these centres.
A 24×7 control room (011-23061469) is functioning from Directorate General of Health Services. The situation is being monitored closely.
(AGENCIES)
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