Pune city has reported its first case of Zika Virus (ZiV) this year. According to the officials of the state of Pune, the first case of ZiV was detected in Pune in 2021, followed by two cases in 2022.
However, the current detected case of the 64-year-old woman has taken the tally to 7 in the state prompting the Maharashtra health department to issue an advisory to all districts to strengthen surveillance measures.
Zika Virus Detected In Pune
In response to the advisory, the Pune Municipal Corporation health department is now surveilling a radius of five kilometres with the area of the reported case as the epicentre.
Dr Bhagwan Pawar, Health Officer, PMC said, “We have started fumigation and visited 500 houses in Pratiknagar, and found no case with Zika symptoms. No suspected samples have been taken from the community. The source of infection in this case is Kerala as the woman has a travel history to the southern state. We urge residents to follow prevention measures.”
The woman was admitted to the Jehangir Hospital after exhibiting symptoms like fever, body aches, rashes and weakness.
Zika Virus Complications
The major issue with ZiV is that most people who catch this infection do not show any symptoms, but are equally capable of transmitting ZiV to others around them. The World Health Organisation (WHO) shared that cases that do show symptoms, typically see the signs between 3–14 days after infection, which include:
- Rash
- Fever
- Conjunctivitis
- Muscle and joint pain
- Feeling uneasy and generally unwell
- Headache
In most cases, Zika infection is mild and its symptoms can be treated easily, however, in some cases, especially in pregnant women, ZiV can cause some serious defects in the infant. Approximately 5–15% of infants born to ZiV-infected women show the following Zika-related complications:
- Microcephaly or a smaller head than expected
- Contracted limbs
- High muscle tone
- Eye abnormalities
- Hearing loss
- Fetal loss
- Stillbirth
- Preterm birth
Beyond the above-mentioned complications, ZiV infection can also cause the following complications, particularly in adults and older children:
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A rare condition in which a person's peripheral nerves are attacked by its own immune system, shared WHO.
- Neuropathy: A condition characterised by damaged nerves, stated Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Myelitis: Inflammation in the spinal cord, said the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
With the news of this new case in Pune city, the Indian masses have received another wake-up call to take Zika infection seriously and practice effective preventive measures. Protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially during the day. Seek a timely diagnosis in case you notice any symptoms. Most importantly, keep your immunity up by following a healthy lifestyle that avoids smoking, alcohol, and processed food.
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