Eight Zika virus cases detected in Maharashtra have sparked concern, prompting the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to issue an advisory to all states. The advisory emphasised the need for heightened vigilance and directed healthcare facilities to screen pregnant women for potential Zika infection.
Six of the confirmed cases are from Pune, with the remaining two located in Kolhapur and Sangamner. Atul Goel, director general of health services, has directed states to closely monitor the situation.
Zika virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, is a cause for particular concern among pregnant women, as the infection can transfer through the placenta and cord to reach the foetus. Aedes aegypti is also responsible for the spread of dengue and chikungunya.
The infection can lead to microcephaly, a birth defect characterised by an abnormally small head in newborns, said Rajesh Dighe, assistant chief medical officer at Pune Municipal Corporation.
The number of cases reported from Pune appears to be increasing or originating solely in the city as a result of the Zika testing facility at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and widespread surveillance, according to Dighe.
A number of private hospitals are also linked to the NIV and they send samples directly for testing, he added.
From the first case reported on June 20 to July 4, the PMC screened 21,441 patients.
“It is crucial for the samples to reach within 24 hours of testing. The samples have to be preserved in ice-cream-like cold tubes with temperatures between -20 to -25 degrees Celsius,” he said.
Zika is a weaker virus than dengue, which can be fatal and chikungunya, which causes long-term illness, Dighe said.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States, symptoms are mild and may include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis and muscle pain.
“There is no cure for the disease as yet, but hydrating the patient enough with plenty of water and rest can help cure it in 4-5 days,” he added.
The Brazilian mutation of the virus is considered severe and can harm pregnant women, whereas the Asian and African mutations are deemed safe. “However, because we do not know which strain is circulating, all precautions are being taken, including ultrasound and other tests for pregnant women,” Dighe told Down To Earth.
Apart from mosquito bites, the virus can also be transmitted through unprotected sex and breastfeeding. “Used syringes, HIV patients and infected blood can all contribute to the virus’s spread,” he explained.
According to Dighe, precautionary measures such as using mosquito repellent at all times and removing water from fountains, coolers and other areas where mosquitos can breed should be implemented immediately.
Aside from NIV, the testing is carried out by the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi, as well as a few selected virus research and diagnostic laboratories of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Some private hospitals also provide a rapid test to estimate the virus’s spread, Dighe added.
The Union Government has directed states to report any detected cases directly to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control.
Entomological surveillance has been implemented in schools, construction sites, workplaces and residential areas and vector control efforts have been stepped up.
The first Zika virus case in India was reported in Gujarat in 2016 and subsequent cases have been reported in Maharashtra as well as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Karnataka.