The Union Health Ministry has asked the External Affairs Ministry to inform it if any of the 13 Indians, who have tested positive for Zika virus in Singapore, decide to return to India so that appropriate measures can be taken.
"We are regularly screening and we have requested that if these 13 people travel to India, do inform us so that they can be examined," Health secretary C K Mishra said.
He said the request was made to the MEA after the report of 13 affected Indians came to the forefront.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had yesterday said Indian Embassy in Singapore has reported that 13 Indians have been affected by Zika virus.
He said as per Singapore's Ministry of Health, the affected Indians were showing "mild symptoms" and have either recovered or are recovering.
"Their recovery process is being monitored closely. Due to patient confidentiality, the Singapore authorities are unable to share details of these patients without their consent. The cases seem to be localised in a defined area," Swarup had said.
The Indian Mission is in "constant close touch" with the Ministry of Health of Singapore and will continue to follow up to ensure that Indian Nationals receive full medical support.
The Union Health Ministry in February this year, had issued detailed guidelines for combating the disease, including a travel advisory that asked pregnant women to either defer or cancel their travel to the affected areas.
The ministry had said that all international airports and ports will display signage with information on the disease and travellers will be asked to report to customs if they are returning from affected countries and suffering from febrile illness.
In February, the World Health Organisation had declared Zika a public health emergency after women affected by it had given birth to children with microcephaly, a birth defect with small head size.
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