No case of Zika virus in India: Centre
February 01, 2016  21:33
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Stating that there is not a single case of Zika virus, suspected of causing serious birth defects, in India, the Centre today said it will come out with guidelines to prevent the disease within the next 48 hours.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, who chaired a high-level meeting today on the issue, said that detailed discussions were held on the proposed guidelines for the 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 said in a series of tweets.

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

Senior officials of the health ministry, including the Union health secretary B P Sharma, director general health services Jagdish Prasad, officials from Indian Council of Medical Research and National Centre for Disease Control were present during the meeting.

The World Health Organisation committee called an emergency meeting in Geneva today on the response to the Zika virus and will decide whether to designate the mosquito-borne virus -- which has been linked to serious birth defects -- a global emergency.
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