Guidelines to Handle Zika Virus Disease

No case of Zika virus disease has been reported in India, so far. However, Government of India has taken adequate measures to prevent/control Zika virus disease outbreak.  The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been regularly reviewing the preventive measures against Zika virus. Advisories have been issued to the States for intensification of vector control measures. Guidelines for integrated vector management for control of Aedes mosquito, the vector for Zika, have been issued and also made available on the website of the Ministry. These guidelines include vector surveillance (both for adult mosquitoes and larvae), environmental management through environmental modification/ manipulation, personal protection, biological and chemical control using larvicide and adulticide at household, community and institutional levels.

National Institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi are the apex laboratories for diagnosing Zika virus in the country. 13 other laboratories have also been strengthened for diagnosis of Zika virus disease:

1. King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

2. NIV Field Unit, Allapuzzha, Kerala

3. Manipal Centre for Virus Research, KMC, Manipal

4. BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad

5. Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubneshwar

6. National Institute for Cholera & Enteric Diseases, Kolkata

7. King George Medical University, Lucknow

8. Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh

9. Regional Medical Research Centre, Jabalpur

10. Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Education & Research, Puducherry.

11. Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry

12. Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, Madurai

13. National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi.

Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent Zika virus disease. Indian Council of Medical Research has not vetted any vaccine for Zika virus disease.

A 24x7 control room cum Help Line is functioning from Directorate General of Health Services, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. The control room number is 23061469.  Signages have been displayed at International Airports/ Ports providing information for travellers on Zika virus disease. The signages inform the passengers to report to the Medical units at the Ports/ Airports if suffering from symptoms at the time of arrival.

The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Sh J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Courtesy – Press Information Bureau, Government of India