Jaipur, December 19: With over 280 Zika cases reported in Rajasthan and surrounding states from September to November, US-based health organisation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level-2 alert for pregnant women and advised them against travelling to these areas.

Releasing the health advisory, the CDC alert says, “Zika is endemic (regularly found) in India. However, there is an unusual increase in the number of cases in Rajasthan and surrounding areas. Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika.” Zika Virus: If You Travelled To Zika-Affected Areas, You Can’t Donate Blood For 4 Months. 

Along with issuing a warning, the CDC also advised travellers to carry precautions such as condoms and mosquito repellants while visiting Zika affected areas. Also, it strictly warned not to engage in sexual activity.

While most of the symptoms of Zika – a viral infection transmitted by aides aegypti mosquito – are mild and do not require medical attention, but birth defects in newborns have been observed. That is why pregnant women are advised to be take extra precautions. The first cases of Zika were reported in South America and parts of Africa.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 19, 2018 07:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).