'Over 280 cases of zika virus reported from three states'

New Delhi: Over 280 cases of Zika virus infection, including two deaths, were reported from three states in India from September to November, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.

Total 159 cases of the infection were reported from Jaipur in Rajasthan.

Madhya Pradesh witnessed 159 cases with Bhopal reporting 54, Vidisha 50, Hoshangabad 2, Sehore 21, Sagar 2 and Raisen 1.

One confirmed case of Zika virus was reported from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Zika virus has the potential to spread given the wide geographical distribution of the mosquito vector (Aedes mosquito that also spreads dengue and chikungunya) in India, a lack of immunity among the population in newly affected areas and the high volume of international travel, the minister said.