Centre rushes multi-disciplinary health team to UP as a case of Zika virus detected

The Union health ministry on Monday rushed a high-level team to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) to monitor the Zika virus situation. The decision was taken after the state's detected a case of the Zika virus infection was reported.

The multi-disciplinary team will support the state government in checking the spread of the virus.

The central team consists of a public health experts and gynecologists from National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVDCP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Dr RML Hospital has been deployed .

The team shall work closely with the state health department, take stock of the situation on the ground and assess whether the Union health ministry's action plan for Zika management is being implemented, a statement from the Union Health ministry said.

A 57-year-old man was found positive with the Zika virus in Kanpur. The team will also recommend necessary public health interventions for management of Zika in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which also carries dengue and chikungunya. Some common symptoms are fever, body aches, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and malaise or headache.Symptoms generally last between two and seven days, although most of those infected do not develop symptoms, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.