Zika Situation Well Under Control, Karnataka Govt Tells Centre

Amid Zika scare, Karnataka government has also sent the serum samples of pregnant women to the National Institute of Virology, Bengaluru.

Karnataka government wrote to the Union Health Ministry regarding the detection of Zika virus in mosquitoes within Chikkaballapura district on Friday. In the letter, the state government stated that the situation was "well under control". The state health department emphasized that they have intensified vector control measures and implemented necessary actions following the detection of the Zika virus in Aedes mosquitoes at Talakayalabetta village in Chikkaballapura district.

"An area of 5 km diameter is notified as 'Containment Zone (CZ)' for surveillance purposes," the letter said. The serum samples of pregnant women have also been submitted to the National Institute of Virology, Bengaluru.

The state government said that they are conducting indoor space spraying with Pyrethrum (2 percent) in the affected village. They have also initiated Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) sessions in the CZ villages. Additionally, they noted the presence of five villages in the CZ and each equipped with a primary healthcare center. Up to now, 34 serum samples, including those from fever cases, have been submitted.

"The situation is closely monitored by the state programme division and necessary technical support is provided. Further, an advisory regarding measures to be followed for Zika virus disease prevention by Healthcare workers and the general public is issued by the Health Commissioner. In total, the situation is well under control," it added, as reported by PTI.

On Thursday, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao held a special meeting and chalked out a plan to take necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Earlier, Zika virus was found in mosquitoes in Talakayalabetta village in Sidlaghatta taluk of Chikkaballapura district located close to Bengaluru Urban district. Chikkaballapura District Health Officer Mahesh Kumar confirmed the presence of the Zika virus in the district, reported IANS.