Zika Outbreak in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

As of November 9, there were 89 new cases of the Zika virus in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP). This is the first time they have found this virus in UP, and health officials say that it can quickly spread in UP which has a population of 204 million.

Mosquitos usually spread Zika, but it can also be a sexually transmitted disease. There is no cure, so the only option for officials is to rid the area of mosquitos quickly. Though it usually causes rashes, mild fevers, headaches, and joint pain, it can also cause a severe congenital disability in pregnant women who get the virus. Their babies can be born with shrunken brains. It is also linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes the body to attack its immunities.

At the publishing of this article, there were no efforts to eliminate mosquitos. Pray that this preventative measure will happen quickly.

Let us pray fervently for:

  • Justice to prevail and for this fledgling democracy to withstand the threats against its stability (The Bible, Proverbs 21:15).
  • President Saied to heed the international outcry against his return to autocratic policies (The Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
  • The minority Christian community united in prayer to Almighty God to intervene in the affairs of men to deter efforts to undermine this fragile democracy (The Bible, Isaiah 59:15-17).