No Zika case in India, says Nadda

Stating that there is not a single case of Zika virus has been detected in the country so far, the Centre on Monday said it will release guidelines to prevent the disease within the next 48 hours.

Health Minister JP Nadda, who chaired a high-level meeting on the issue on Monday, said detailed discussions were held on the proposed guidelines for Zika virus and based on the outcome of the emergency meet called by the World Health Organisation (WHO), India will issue the guidelines.

"Discussed guidelines for Zika virus, assessed preparedness, no case reported in India yet. Based on outcome of WHO meet on Zika virus, we will issue detailed guidelines in next 48 hrs," Nadda tweeted.

"The guidelines will be for managing situation arising out of Zika virus, tackling it and preventive measures. Travel advisory will also be issued for the affected countries," said a senior official.

Senior officials of the Health Ministry – including Health Secretary BP Sharma, Director General of Health Services Jagdish Prasad, officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Centre for Disease Control – attended the meeting.

The WHO committee on Monday called an emergency meeting in Geneva on the response to Zika virus and will decide whether to designate the mosquito-borne virus a global emergency.

The Zika virus is "spreading explosively" in the Americas and can infect up to four million people, the WHO has warned and also issued a warning to all countries, including India. 

Aedes Aegypti mosquito carries Zika virus is suspected to cause brain damage in babies. This mosquito also carries virus that cause dengue and chikungunya, which pose gave public health concern in tropical countries like India.

The outbreak began in Brazil last year and has now spread to 24 countries in the Americas. Nadda had convened a meeting on the issue last week where he had directed his ministry to constitute a technical group to monitor the situation arising out of the Zika virus.