Seven cases of zika virus have been reported in Maharashtra this year, with two in Mumbai in late August, another two in Kolhapur, one in Ichalkaranji around the same time, one in Pandharpur, and the latest one reported in Pune.

The state health department has swung into action and initiated disease surveillance, which includes coordinating with medical health officers in urban areas and collecting samples from infected patients and contacts which will be further investigated by the National Institute of Virology (NIV). “We even capture mosquitoes, their eggs and larvae from areas where cases are reported and send them to NIV for further investigation,” said Dr Pratapsinh Sarnikar, state’s joint director of health.