Research Arcle Journal of Communicable Diseases (P-ISSN: 0019-5138 & E-ISSN: 2581-351X) Copyright (c) 2021: Author(s). Published by Advanced Research Publicaons Journal of Communicable Diseases Volume 53, Issue 3 - 2021, Pg. No. 201-212 Peer Reviewed & Open Access Journal Corresponding Author: MS Sasi, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Kerala, India. E-mail Id: adentomology@gmail.com Orcid Id: hps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2839-9768 How to cite this arcle: Sasi MS, Rajendran R, Meenakshy V, Dilip Kumar T, Vardhanan S, Suresh T, Regu K, Sharma SN. Zika Virus: An Emerging Mosquito-Borne Disease Threat in Kerala. J Commun Dis. 2021;53(3):201- 212. Date of Submission: 2021-08-06 Date of Acceptance: 2021-09-06 I N F O A B S T R A C T First laboratory confirmed Zika case in Kerala was reported in Thiruvananthapuram, on 8th July 2021. Since then, 68 ZIKV posive cases have been reported from Kerala, with majority of cases from Thiruvananthapuram Corporaon area. Based on the preliminary invesgaon, micro containment zones were idenfied and detailed invesgaon was carried out in these areas. Entomological surveillance indicated that all the three species of Aedes mosquitoes - Ae. aegyp, Ae. albopictus and Ae. viatus were present in the survey areas. The Aedes larval indices were found above the crical level. The most preferred habitats of Aedes mosquitoes were water stagnated areas in cemented floor of the newly construcng buildings followed by cement tanks/ cement pits and discarded res. ZIKV could be detected from all the three Aedes mosquitoes collected from the micro containment zones. Trasovarial transmission of ZIKV could be noted in this outbreak. Vector control was intensified with the acve parcipaon of local bodies and local health instuons. The epidemiological study showed most of the Zika posive cases has fever, rash and conjuncvis and in majority of cases, the duraon of the illness lasts only for 2-3 days. The females were more affected. The most affected age group was 21-30 followed by 31-40. Among the 68 ZIKV posive cases, 7 (10.29%) were pregnant women. No major anomaly was detected in ZIKV posive cases; however there is a need to scale up surveillance and vector control acvies to prevent further outbreaks in Kerala and elsewhere. Keywords: Zika Virus, Kerala, Aedes viatus, Breeding Preference Rao Zika Virus: An Emerging Mosquito-Borne Disease Threat in Kerala MS Sasi 1 , R Rajendran 2 , V Meenakshy 3 , T Dilip Kumar 4 , Sherly Vardhanan 5 , T Suresh 6 , K Regu 7 , SN Sharma 8 1 Assistant Director (Entomology), Directorate of Health Services, Thiruvananthapuram, Government of Kerala, India. 2 Consultant, 7 Addional Director and Head, Naonal Centre for Disease Control, Calicut, Kerala, India. 3 Director of Health Services (I/C) and SPO (NVBDCP), Directorate of Health Services, Thiruvananthapuram, Government of Kerala, India. 4 Filaria Consultant, Regional Office for Health and Family Welfare, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 5 District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer, District Medical Office (H), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 6 Former District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer, Health Services Department, Kerala, India. 8 Consultant, Naonal Centre for Disease Control, 22-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi, India. DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202158