JOIN USIndia is vulnerable to the risk of Zika virus transmissions owing to high travel volumes from the disease affected areas in the Americas, presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus and limited health resources, a new study said on Friday.
“Many countries across Africa and Asia-Pacific may be vulnerable to Zika virus outbreaks, with India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh expected to be at the greatest risk of Zika virus transmission, due to a combination of high travel volumes from Zika-affected areas in the Americas, local presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting Zika virus, suitable climatic conditions, large populations or limited health resources,” a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases said.
The modeling study said countries with large volumes of travellers arriving from Zika virus-affected areas of the Americas and large populations at risk include India (6,74,22 travellers arriving per year and 1.2 billion residents in potential Zika transmission areas); and China (2,38,415 travellers, 242 million residents).
For Indonesia, it is 1,38,65 travellers and 197 million residents; for Philippines 35,635 travellers and 70 million residents; and for Thailand 29,241 travellers and 59 million residents.
Most vulnerable
India, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh might be most vulnerable to impact because of their limited per capita health resources, the study said.
“An estimated 2.6 billion people live in areas of Africa and Asia-Pacific where the local mosquito species and suitable climatic conditions mean that local zika virus transmission is theoretically possible.