India asks US health monitor to withdraw or modify Zika outbreak alert

The Government of India has cited studies undertaken at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, in its official communication to the CDC

India asked the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to “withdraw or modify” an alert the latter issued cautioning pregnant women against travelling to India lest they risk a Zika infection.

On December 13, the CDC had warned that “an outbreak of Zika has been reported in India” and that the disease is “endemic” in the country.

It added, “Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. This is because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.”

The CDC had classified the alert as ‘Level 2’, which requires ‘enhanced protection’. Level 1 on its three-tiered list