Tests for thirty more people returned positive for Zika virus in Kanpur, with the total number of people infected now reaching 66, stated a senior official on Friday. Among the infected, 45 are men and 21 women. The first case of Zika virus in Kanpur was reported on October 23 when an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer was found positive.

Samples were collected from different pockets in the neighboring areas of IAF station hangars and were sent to the King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow for testing. Thirty of these samples returned positive for Zika virus, said District Magistrate Vishak G Ayyar.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus and eliminating the mosquitoes is the safe way out, he added. In order to check the spread of the disease, health teams are conducting sanitisation programs, including anti-larvae spraying, identifying fever patients, and screening seriously ill patients and pregnant women.

Health officials have been directed to ramp up surveillance activities and carry out door-to-door sampling and testing. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also told the health department to ensure strict surveillance and to carry out door-to-door sanitisation and fogging drives.

Source: Financial Express