Zika – since the outbreak has already abated in the country, India now urged the US to ‘withdraw or modify’ its advisory against travelling in India, especially pregnant women, which was issued after Zika cases were reported in Indian states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
In order to avoid the risk of the disease, last month, US Government’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had alerted pregnant women not to travel to the affected areas of India and released an advisory.
The advisory interpreted “Pregnant women should avoid travelling the areas that hold the risk of Zika. For the reason Zika can cause serious birth defects and the chances of infectious pregnancy and passing Zika virus to her foetus are high in a pregnant woman.”
The advisory goes completely against the current situation of India and it raises concern. Therefore, Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, said as the advisory said, it gives an impression that the outbreak of the disease is still prevailing. “I wish to bring to your knowledge that Zika virus outbreak in both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have now slacked off completely.”
In addition, Dr Bhargava has intimated the CDC authorities in writing that, “there are no fresh reports have been found and vector indices are also well within acceptable limits. I urge you to consider the matter with the concerned authorities at CDCP and withdraw/modify the travel advisory,” . The withdrawal of advisory is significant, especially in the inbound season.
As the findings shows, travel advisories have always been substantial and its negative remarks adversely effects the tourism industry and harms the national economic growth of the nation. This happened with India now as numerous tourists from India’s main international sources markets turn to stand by their government’s advice and shun to travel to the country.
