The government of India has set up a Technical Expert Group to suggest measures to deal with Zika virus. The virus, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has been linked to brain defects in babies. Health Minister J P Nadda Chaired a high level meeting in New Delhi Friday with his Ministry’s officials and representatives from AIIMS and National Institute of Virology and took stock of the situation in view of the recent cases of Zika virus reported from Latin American countries.
Mr Nadda said, the expert group has been asked to submit its report soon. Mr Nadda said, so far, not a single case of the virus has been reported in the country. He said, the Health Ministry has strengthened its surveillance system and focusing on its preventives and preparedness strategies to tackle the virus.
Zika virus is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family and the Flavivirus genus, transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti.