Pune district in Maharashtra has become a hotspot for Zika virus, with the region accounting for a staggering 125 out of 151 confirmed cases of the virus reported in India in 2024.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, a total of 151 Zika cases were recorded across three states - Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.

Of these, Maharashtra reported the highest number, with 140 cases, followed by Karnataka with 10 and Gujarat with just one.

The WHO confirmed on January 29 that no cases of microcephaly or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have been linked to Zika in India as of December 31, 2024. 

What is Zika Virus?

Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes but can also spread from mother to child during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, blood transfusions and organ transplants. At present, there is no definitive cure for the virus.