High-level central team surveys Zika-infected areas in Jaipur

A high-level team from the Centre, dispatched to Jaipur in the wake of recent cases of Zika found there, visited the area where the infection was first detected on September 21. The four-member team is on a five-day visit, their date of arrival coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.

On Saturday, the team first went to Shastri Nagar, where a pregnant woman was the first person to be detected with the infection. The team then split into two to visit Bharatpur and Dausa districts. Since September 22, 15 laboratory-confirmed cases have been found by state Health department teams.

The experts took stock of the measures undertaken by the state Health Department to identify patients infected by the life-threatening virus, to screen infection, protect others in the area and prevention measure to curtail the potential outbreak of an epidemic.

"The team of experts briefed medical officers, paramedical staff and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) about international standard protocol and procedure to be followed to contain, curtail and cure spread of the virus. On the basis of the field visit, the team will suggest recommendations and submit a final report," an official from the Health department said.

The high-level team has been deputed by the Central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to review public health measures undertaken to stop the spread of Zika virus in the state.