Zika Alert: US advises pregnant women not to travel to India and specifically Rajasthan; 153 cases reported in Oct

The Zika virus is again spreading in the sub-continent and has taken a toll in India after more than 153 cases were reported in October and November alone in Rajasthan.

Now, the US health advisory has come by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuing a warning to the pregnant women not to travel to India and specifically Rajasthan, due to the reported outbreak of Zika, which is disease borne by mosquito.

The alert by the CDC read, “There is an unusual increase in the number of Zika cases in Rajasthan and surrounding states. Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika.”

In Rajasthan, tourists visit in abundance and the first case which was reported in the state was in September, when an 85 year-old was diagnosed with a positive for the Zika virus.

The alert issued by the US on December 13 further said that “An outbreak of Zika virus has been reported in India. Public health officials in India have reported an unusual increase in the number of confirmed Zika cases in Rajasthan and surrounding states. Zika continues to be a risk throughout India.”

The alert was of level 2 and requires enhanced protection, wherein the travelers are asked to prohibit visiting the place and pay a complete attention on themselves.

The alert read as, “Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. This is because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.”

Tourism will get affected in Rajasthan post this advisory and India’s health ministry will have to take a suo-motto cognisance of the Zika virus alert.

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