Union Government forms technical group to monitor Zika virus situation
The Union government has set up a Technical Expert Group to suggest measures to deal with Zika virus.
Decision in this regard was taken by high level meeting chaired by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in New Delhi.
The Technical expert group has been asked to submit its report soon so that the government could take steps accordingly.
Key facts
- The high level meeting was also attended by Health Ministry’s officials and representatives from AIIMS and National Institute of Virology (NIV).
- They took stock of the situation in view of the recent outbreak of Zika Virus reported from Latin American countries.
- So far not a single case of the virus has been reported in India but government has strengthened its surveillance system and focusing on its preventives and preparedness strategies to tackle the spread of virus in the country.
The Zika virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes ( It also transmit 3 other vector-borne diseases Chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever). It has has been linked to brain defects in babies i.e. they born with abnormal condition called microcephaly which can cause brain damage.
WHO Prediction
World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that three to four million people may be infected with Zika virus in the Americas (South and North America). The outbreak has gone from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.
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Month: Current Affairs - January, 2016