Zika virus detected in mosquito species in Karnataka's Chikkaballapura district

The officials stressed that the virus has been detected only in mosquito samples collected from the Talakayalabetta waterbody

Zika virus has been detected in a mosquito species in Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka following which blood samples of people with high fever have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for examination, officials said on Thursday.

The virus was detected in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after samples from six waterbodies in Chikkaballapura were collected and sent for examination in August last week, they said.

Following confirmation of the presence of Zika virus in the mosquito samples collected from Talakayalabetta in the district, an alert was issued in a five kilometre radius of the area as a precautionary measure to contain the breeding. The officials stressed that the virus has been detected only in mosquito samples collected from the Talakayalabetta waterbody and no cases have been detected in people yet.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said no person has been tested positive for Zika virus. "The virus has been detected in a mosquito pool. This report came 10 days ago. Don't be afraid of Zika virus," he said. "We will be monitoring the situation. A few people were showing some symptoms of fever and rashes. They have been kept in the hospital and checked. Their samples have been sent. Some of them have also been discharged from the hospital. They are okay," he said.

"We will be looking into it. We are taking preventive measures. Our people are on the job The only precaution we need to take is on pregnant women where it might affect the child. So far, nothing of that sort is there. I request people not to panic. Our department is fully looking into it. Hopefully, there will be no breakout of it anywhere," he told