After a WTO warning that the mosquito-borne Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday held a high-level meeting and set up a Central monitoring team.

Nadda has directed the Ministry to constitute a technical group immediately to monitor the Zika situation. The group will advise further on the steps that need to be taken, a statement said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and all necessary steps have been initiated to ensure that India is well prepared in case of any eventuality,” Nadda said after the meeting, which was attended by senior officials of the Ministry and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. “We are focusing on especially strengthening the surveillance system,” he added.

The Zika virus, carried by the Aedes mosquito that also transmits dengue and chikunguniya, has been linked to a rare neurological birth defect microcephaly in Brazil, though scientists have called for a deeper study to establish the link.

Nadda called for increased focus on prevention to control the spread of the Aedes mosquito that breeds in clean water. “Community awareness plays an instrumental role in this regard,” he said.

The outbreak of Zika began in Brazil last year and has now spread to 24 countries in the Americas, according to WHO.

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