Zika In India

Communicable disease scare grips people as Maharashtra reports 28 Zika cases this year

The Centre today issued an advisory to all states considering the rising Zika cases in Maharashtra, asking for 'constant vigil and focus on pregnant women who have tested positive for the infection'

"Health facilities must identify a nodal officer to monitor and act to keep the premises free of Aedes mosquitoes," the advisory stated

In view of some cases of Zika virus reported from parts of Maharashtra, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory to all states highlighting the need for maintaining a constant vigil over the situation in the country. States have been urged to focus on screening pregnant women for Zika virus and monitor the growth of foetus of expecting mothers who tested positive for the infection. Besides the advisory by Director General of Health Services Dr Atul Goel, the ministry also asked health facilities to identify a nodal officer to monitor and act to keep the premises free of Aedes mosquito infestation. Zika is an Aedes mosquito-borne viral disease like dengue and chikungunya. Though non-fatal, Zika is associated with microcephaly (a condition where the head is much smaller than expected) in babies born to affected pregnant women which makes it a cause of major concern. In 2024, till July 2, Pune has recorded six cases in Pune and one each in Kolhapur and Sangamner.

The state's health department said in a release that the elderly and children should maintain caution and avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes

The chief of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Dr N K Arora said that the country should be "ready to fight" the Zika virus in case of an "outbreak"

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According to a Pune lab report, a 5-year-old girl in Karnataka has tested positive for the Zika virus and has been advised to take precautionary measures

Prior to this, the first-ever Zika virus case in the state was reported in Pune in July 2021.

Caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day, symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache.

A 57-year-old man from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh tested positive for Zika virus on October 22.

The patient's sample was sent to to Pune for examination

Three more persons tested positive for Zika virus in the state taking the total reported cases of the infection to 41, of which 5 are active, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday.

A 73-year-old woman tested positive for Zika virus in Kerala on Monday, taking the total number of infections in the state to 19.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said that an action plan has been drawn up to control the spread of Zika.

Timely action needed to curb the spread of zika virus

The minister said the man had earlier tested negative for fevers like dengue and malaria

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WHO had on last Friday confirmed the first case of Zika virus infection in Ahmedabad