The Union health ministry on Monday swung into action after middle-distance runner Sudha Singh, who returned on Saturday from Rio after the Olympic Games, was subjected to tests for possible infection by the Zika virus.
The ministry has reportedly advised state health departments to monitor the Indian contingent, coaches and officials who were at the Olympic Games. In response, Karnataka health officials who visited Sudha at a hospital on Monday have asked the Sports Authority of India to submit the list of athle tes who trained at the South Centre here, it is learnt.
It is likely that SAI will submit a consolidated list of the contingent to the Union health ministry. The directive also applies to all those who return from countries where the disease is endemic.The government has decided to enhance its surveillance at all international airports.
These damage-control measures come two days after Sudha, who took part in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympics, returned to the city with fever, joint pain and fatigue and was rushed to a city hospital. “We h av e i n structed au thorities at the Kempe gowda International Airport to conduct surveillance since March this year as per a central government directive to isolate passengers coming from areas vulnerable to Zika and with possibility of get ting infected by the virus. We are continuing to do that even now. We have also been collating reports from the airport authorities on a daily basis,” said Dr Sunanda, district surveillance offider, health and family welfare department of Karnataka.
Sourced from TNN, Featured image courtesy: googleimages
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