Zika virus which causes congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus and newborn has begun infecting people in several states, according to an analysis by the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Calling for surveillance of fever cases, since Covid cases are likely to go up in rains, the study also points to the worrying discovery of co-infection of Zika, dengue and chikungunya. NIV analysed 1,520 samples collected last year after Maharashtra reported a Zika case.

With the arrival of rains in most states, the threat of vector-borne diseases has gone up. Zika dengue and chikungunya spread through Aedes mosquitoes. Zika infection can result in fetal loss or stillbirth or premature delivery.