Health Alerts

Zika risk ‘moderate’; Dengue & chikungunya late in season

The WHO has assessed the level of risk from confirmed Zika cases reported in Kerala and Maharashtra this year as moderate due to the established presence and densities of the mosquito vector, likely interruption of insect control measures during the pandemic, plus ‘ecological conditions are favourable for ZIKV transmission and potential endemicity’. The initial case confirmed in Kerala led to a further 89 detected through screening in the local area – all either resided in, or had travelled to, Trivandrum district. In Maharashtra (Belsar, Pune district), no more Zika infections have been identified to date from the single confirmed case, however some results are pending.  

The prolonged monsoons have produced later surges in seasonal illnesses and they could continue well into next month. Dengue cases have been rising in the states of Haryana, Punjab (Amritsar and Chandigarh Tricity) and to the north in Jammu and Kashmir (Kathua), while chikungunya rates are at 4-year high in Mumbai (Maharashtra). Read more