Zika cases shoots up to 117 in Jaipur

Yash Goyal
Our Correspondent
Jaipur, October 20  

Number of Zika cases in the city has shot up to an alarming 117—with eight more being reported on Saturday—as state’s health department scampers to deal with the outbreak.

The first case of Zika virus was reported on September 22. Govind Pareek, an official spokesperson of the state health department, said 98 of the 117 had already recovered.

As the health department draws up plans for fogging and cleaning operations at Shashtri Nagar, Sindhi camp and some adjoining areas as well as Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA), where one woman constable tested positive, its troubles appear to be compounded by a rise of dengue and H1N1 cases.

Meanwhile, the union health department continues to monitor the situation.

H1N1 has claimed 198 deaths in parts of Rajasthan since January 1, 2018. Dengue cases meanwhile have shot up threefold in 2018 compared to last year: number of dengue cases in state from January to October 10 this year stood at 3,697 compared to 1000 in corresponding months in 2017.  However, only five have died of dengue in the state so far.