Amid Corona, Zika virus strikes in Kerala
09 Jul 2021 10:58:22
Thiruvananthapuram, July 09: At a time when Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala is already witnessing a surge in the cases of covid 19, a new virus now has struck the state. Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday announced that the state has reported the its first case of the 'Zika Virus'- a mosquito-borne viral infection.
As per the given information, as many as 19 samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing of the virus. Out of which, 13 are said to have returned positive. All the 13 suspected cases belong to Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram.
George informed that a 24-year-old pregnant woman from Parassala is suspected to have been diagnosed with the Zika virus infection in Kerala first. Taking precautions the Kerala govt has alerted all the districts about Zika Virus.
According to the World Health Orgnisation, the Zika virus is a virus transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedus aegypti mosquito in tropical and subtropical regions. Aedes mosquitoes, which are also the same mosquito that can transmit dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever, breed in stagnant freshwater and rest mostly indoors.
There is an association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is no vaccine available yet for the prevention or cure of the Zika virus infection. The incubation period of the Zika virus is between 3 to 14 days, with most cases being asymptomatic.
The symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. The first local outbreak in India was reported in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in January 2017 followed by Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu in July 2017.
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