Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (STARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Zika Virus Cases in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.275 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  AUGUST, 2021 ZIKA VIRUS CASES IN KERALA

## *275. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  data  regarding  detection  of  Zika  Virus  cases  in Kerala; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of Zika virus cases reported so far in the State?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) & (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 275* FOR 6 TH  AUGUST, 2021

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by bite of Aedes mosquitoes.  It  is  usually  a  mild  disease  manifesting  as  fever,  rash,  conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, or headache. Most people with Zika virus infection do not  develop  symptoms.  However,  Zika  virus  infection  during  pregnancy  can  cause infants  to  be  born  with  microcephaly  and  other  congenital  malformations, known as congenital Zika syndrome. The disease was first reported in India in 2017.

As on 2 nd August 2021, 65 cases have been reported by Kerala. The district wise breakup is as under;

| District           |   Total no. of cases |
|--------------------|----------------------|
| Thiruvananthapuram |                   61 |
| Ernakulam          |                   02 |
| Kottayam           |                   01 |
| Kollam             |                   01 |

Government of India has taken the following measures :

-  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  prepared  and  widely  disseminated  Zika action plan detailing control and containment activities to be followed in the event of an outbreak.
-  The  Ministry  conducts  vector  survey  through  Regional  Offices  of  Health  and Family  Welfare,  Government  of  India  in  the  International  Airports  and  their surroundings in the country.
-  Central Cross-checking Organization (CCCO), NVBDCP, GoI carries out entomological  survey  in  the  assigned  International  Airports  of  the  country  to maintain Aedes breeding free status.
-  Advisories are issued to all State/UTs for intensification of vector control activities.
-  Availability of insecticides and functioning of fogging machine status is monitored through monthly reports from the States.
-  Surveillance for microcephaly in newborns is being undertaken under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). No rise in cases of microcephaly has been reported from the State of Kerala so far.
-  Central  multi-disciplinary  teams  have  been  deployed  to  investigate  and  support State  health  departments  in  control  and  containment  activities  during  all  these outbreaks. In the current outbreak in Kerala too, a multi-disciplinary Central Team had visited  Kerala from  10 th to  21 st July,  2021  for  aid  state  health  department  in control and containment measures.