The Health department is on high alert following the confirmation of the first Zika virus case in the state. The virus has been confirmed in a five-year-old girl from Raichur district in north Karnataka. Taking cognisance of it, the state government has directed the health department to initiate all precautionary measures from Tuesday to contain the disease.

The cold, cloudy weather and drizzles in the state due to the Mandous cyclone has further complicated the situation as the virus spread faster under these circumstances according to experts. The authorities are gathering the travel history of the girl and precautions have already been initiated in the neighborhood and surroundings of the girl's residence. The blood and urine samples of the parents and family members have been collected and so far five persons have tested negative.