Centre warns against travel to Zika-hit nations

­The Centre on Tuesday issued guidelines on Zika virus disease and advised people to defer or cancel “non-essential” travel to affected countries, saying the viral infection was caused by the same mosquito that is known to transmit diseases like dengue and chikungunya.

“Pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant should defer or cancel their travel to the affected areas,” the Union Health Ministry advised, as the virus is suspected to cause serious birth defects. 

While the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, was designated as the nodal agency for investigation into any outbreak of the Zika virus disease in the country, a Joint Monitoring group under Director General of Health Services would closely monitor the situation, it said.