Lok Sabha Question No. 43 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Zika Virus
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 43 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2016 ZIKA VIRUS

## *43. KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

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

- (a)  whether  the  World  Health  Organisation  (WHO)  has  declared  Zika  virus international public health emergency and issued warning to contain spread virus in various countries i ncluding India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  joint  monitoring  group  and prepared plan to monitor the spread of Zika virus in the country;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  terms  and  references  of monitoring group and the system/method proposed to be adopted for monitoring spread of this virus; and
- (e) the details of the instructions issued by the Union Government to States to deal with the Zika virus along with the various other steps taken/proposed to be the Government to prevent entry of Zika virus in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA )

- (a) to ( e):A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 43* FOR 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2016

(a) &(b)World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Zika virus disease to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 1 st February, 2016, based on circumstantial evidence that neurological disorders, microcephaly  and Guillain  Barre  Syndrome (GBS),  are  linked  to  Zika  virus infecti on.

incl

WHO has recommended enhanced Surveillance for M icrocephaly and GBS and to intensify  research  into  the  etiology  of  new  clusters  of  microcephaly  and neurological disorders to determine whether there is a causative link to Zika

(c)to(e )A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) is in existence under Director General of Health Services for monitoring and instituting appropriate public health measu for Influenzas and other emerging diseases like Ebola Virus Disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndro me, Zika virus disease etc. This Group comprises experts dra from  Department  of  Health  and  its  institutions  like  AIIMS;  National  Centr Disease Control; Department of Health Research; Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries; Ministry o f Environment and Forests; and other co- opted  experts  as  and  when  required.  This  Group has  been  monitoring  the situation arising from the reported cases of Zika virus disease in certain countries . Till  date this  disease  is  not  reported  from  India. Ministr y  of  Health  &  Family Welfare, Government of India has taken action based on the recommendations of JMG and the inputs received from WHO.

In  addition  to  the  JMG,  R eview  meetings have  been  held  at  the  level  of Union Secretary, Department of  Health  and  F amily  Welfare and the Union Health  and Family Welfare Minister . Technical guidelines and travel advisory were issued an disseminated on 2 nd February, 2016 and also made available on the website of t Ministry.  States  w here  Dengue  transmission  is  on, namely    Maharashtra,  Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UT of  Puducherry have been alerted (as the mosquito which transmits airc

Dengue  also  transmits  Zika  virus  disease) . National  Centre  for  Disease  Control (NCDC), Delhiisthe nodal agency for investigation of outbreak in any part of the country. Fifteen Int ernational Airports and ninemajor ports have displayed signages providing information for travelers on Zika virus disease and advising the travellers to report if they are returning from any of the affected countries an d suffering from febrile  illness.  Immigration  authorities  at  these  Airports  have  been  se Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation,  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation , has issued instruct ion  toall international airlines to follow the recommended di sinsection  guidelines.  The  Airport  Health  Officers are monitor ing appropriate vector control measures inAirport premises and in the defined perimeter.  N ational C entre for D isease C ontrol , Delhi ,and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have established the capacity to provide laboratory diagnosis of Zika virus di in  acute  febrile  stage. National  Vector  Borne  Disease  Control  Programme  has alerted all its field units for enhanced vector ( Aedes mosquitoes) control. National AIDS ControlOrganization has issued advisory for blood banks and potential bl donors  to  prevent  transmission  of  Zika  virus  infection  by  blood  transf A  24x7 control room cum Help L ine isfunctioning from  Dte GHS .Public has been madeaware about Zika virus disease through press releases issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Th situation is being monitored regularly.