Scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are urging state governments to expand their testing efforts for Zika virus infection. They recommend testing individuals who have tested negative for dengue and chikungunya fever, as these illnesses share similar symptoms. This call for increased vigilance follows reports of rising Zika virus cases in states like Maharashtra.
An unnamed ICMR scientist, speaking to the media, emphasized the need for heightened surveillance. “State governments and agencies should focus on enhanced surveillance… States should test dengue and chikungunya negative cases for the Zika virus,” the scientist stated. This call for wider testing comes after a surge in Zika cases across India. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a public health emergency due to its outbreak in South America and the Caribbean. India first detected the virus in 2016 and subsequently found it in 16 states during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICMR scientist highlighted the cyclic nature of virus outbreaks. “Since there is a prevalence of viruses in the country, Zika virus outbreak will also occur like dengue outbreak… In the past, we have seen sporadic cases in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala,” the scientist added.
Following the WHO’s classification, India initiated a comprehensive surveillance program in March 2016. Sporadic cases have been documented in Gujarat (2016) and Tamil Nadu (2017), among other locations. This time, the Asian strain of Zika, spread through the bite of infected Aedes dengue mosquitoes, is prevalent in India.
Another ICMR scientist expressed concern over limited testing, leading to potential underreporting of Zika cases. “Zika virus is a raising concern in India. Hence, continuous and strengthened surveillance is required throughout the year to enhance detection and implementation of control measures with an increased pace of testing,” the scientist explained.
Maharashtra has reported eight Zika cases this year, originating from Pune (6), Kolhapur (1), and Sangamner (1). The ICMR scientist emphasized that the government is diligently monitoring febrile illness patients and pregnant mothers in affected states. “There is an upsurge in mosquito-borne diseases so the cases might go up. This time, it is the Asian lineage of Zika in circulation which was (prevalent) during covid 2021,” the scientist added.
The lack of a vaccine for Zika virus underscores the critical need for widespread testing. While vaccine development is being accelerated globally due to the potential complications for pregnant women and their newborns, safety considerations for pregnant women and their children remain a significant challenge.
Zika virus infection has been linked to congenital malformations, including microcephaly. The central government has directed doctors to closely monitor pregnant women for Zika infection. “Around 70-80% of people remain asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic people recover gradually. The concern is for pregnant women. If they get infected by Zika virus, in 1 in 15,000 cases, we may find the baby having abnormality due to microcephaly—a condition in which baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or stopped growing after birth,” explained Dr Sujeet Singh, former head of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr. Singh advocated for mandatory Zika testing during antenatal screening, particularly during the first trimester. “Rather than going for mass testing of pregnant mothers—like it is being done in Pune and creating panic in the society—the government should make Zika testing mandatory in the antenatal screening. The need is for the first-three months because termination is possible during this time. However, beyond this time frame—it is difficult to do so,” Dr. Singh concluded.