Lok Sabha Question No. 2177 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Zika Virus
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, K. GOPAL, B. SREERAMULU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2177 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH JULY, 2016

## ZIKA VIRUS

## 2177. SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: DR. K. GOPAL: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

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

- (a) whether the Zika virus has spread in the country, if so, the details thereof along with the number of cases/deaths reported, State/UT - wise;
- (b) whether the Government has constituted Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) and also prepared plan to monitor the spread of Zika virus in the country;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  observations and  recommendations  of  the  JMG  along with  the schemes/plans evolved for prevention and treatment of the diseases caused by Zika virus and diagnostic facilities available;
- (d) whether the first phase of human clinical trial of a vaccine for Zika virus has begun, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reas ns therefor; and
- (e) the further steps taken by theGovernment in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE )

- (a): No case of Zika virus disease has been reported in India so far.
- (b) to (e): A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) is in existence under Director General of Heal Servicessince  2006for  monitoring  and  instituting  appropriate  public  health  measures  f emerging diseases like Influenza, Ebola virusdisease,  Zika virus disease etc. This Gr oup has been monitoring the situation arising from the reported cases of Zika virus disease in countries.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has taken series of measures to prevent/control outbreak of Zika virus disease in India based on the recommendations of the JMG and the inputs received from W orldH ealth O rganization .

Technical guidelines and travel advisory were issued and disseminated on 2 nd February, 2016.National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi has been identified as the nodal agency for investigation of outbreak , if it has to happen in any part of the country.

Fifteen  International  Airports  and  nine  major  ports  have  displayed  signages  prov information for travelers on Zika virus disease and advising the travellers to report i returning  from  any  of  the  affected  countries  and  suffering  from  febrile  illness.  Imm authorities at these Airports have been sensitized. Directorate G eneral of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued instruction to all international airlines to follow the re aircraft dis - insection guidelines. The Airport Health Officers are monitoring appropriate v control measures in Airport premises and in the defined perimeter.  National Centre for Diseas Control, Delhi and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have established the capa provide  laboratory  diagnosis  of  Zika  virus  disease. 13  additional  laboratories  have  been id entified to test samples of Zika. The list of laboratories is at Annexure .

National  Vector  Borne  Disease  Control  Programme  has  alerted  all  its  field  units enhanced vector (Aedes mosquitoes) control. National AIDS Control Organization has issu advisory  for  blood  banks  and  potential  blood  donors  to  prevent  transmission  of  Zika infection by blood transfusion. The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK) has instituted surveillance for weekly reporting of Microcephaly from about 50 identified h ealth institutions.

All guidance documents, fact sheet and frequently asked questions have been put up the website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

A  24x7 control room cum Help Line  is functioning in Dte.GHS. Public has been made aware about Zika virus disease through press releases issued by Ministry of Health and Family We The situation is being monitored regularly.

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.

## ANNEXURE

## Laboratories strengthened for testing 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 Ento mology, Madurai
13. National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi.