Zika virus outbreak in Kanpur, 17 children among 89 infected

New Delhi : Mosquito-borne Zika virus outbreak has been reported in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. 89 people have tested positive for the virus; 17 of them are children and one is a pregnant woman.

The first Zika case in the industrial city was detected on October 23 and the number of cases has increased over the last week. One case has been reported from Kannauj, 90 km from Kanpur.

Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water and are also the carriers of Dengue and Chikungunya.

A news report said that 80 per cent of the positive people did not show any symptoms of Zika virus. Some people can get fever and bodyache as the symptom.

The Kanpur administration has said that they will be conducting mass testing in the areas with most zika virus cases.

"The health department has formed several teams to contain the spread," Dr Nepal Singh, Chief Medical Officer of Kanpur was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. "There is one woman who is pregnant and we are paying special attention to her," he added.