Central team to visit Zika hotspots in district

Directive to step up testing across State

The Central team that was rushed to the State capital to take stock of the Zika infection outbreak held preliminary talks with health officials on Sunday. The visit assumed importance with the number of infected people going up to 18 amid concerted vector control efforts made by the district authorities including eradication of mosquito breeding sites. The team is expected to visit various places in the district that have reported Zika cases during the next few days. The six-member team led by Ruchi Jain, public health specialist at the Regional Office for Health and Family Welfare here, urged the State health authorities to intensify prevention and control measures for the disease. While proposing strategies for containing the spread of the infection, the team also called for stepping up testing across the State. They also recommended special precautions for pregnant women.