For Guj govt, malaria a bigger threat than Zika

Three cases of the Zika virus reported in Ahmedabad have not provoked the Gujarat government to announce a campaign against the disease. But a drive to check mosquito breeding is already under way to combat malaria.

After the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Friday the three Zika cases —India’s first — the state government maintained that they were isolated and said there is no reason to panic.

Just a couple of days before the WHO’s announcement, at an anti-malaria meeting, state health minister Shankar Chaudhary said that “the mosquito is a terrorist” and suggested drones could be used to locate breeding grounds in “terraces and backyards”.

Under its campaign to rid Ahmedabad of malaria, local health authorities say they are checking over 15 lakh places across the city for breeding sites.

“The Malaria Free Ahmedabad campaign aims at eradicating mosquitoes, so it would address the concern related to Zika virus as well,” said Ahmedabad mayor Gautam Shah. “No special drive is required.”

Meanwhile, the Odisha unit of the Samajwadi Party has cautioned the state government against the possible spread of Zika virus in the state following such disease being detected in Gujarat.