Zika Virus ALERT In Maharashtra! Health Ministry Issues Advisory For All States

New Delhi: Seeing a constant rise in the number of Zika Virus cases in Maharashtra, particularly Pune, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory for all the states of India. The ministry has asked the states to remain vigilant and exercise measures to stop spread of cases. 

Health Ministry Issues Advisory Amid Rising Zika Virus Cases

The advisory urges the states to ‘maintain a state of constant vigil through screening of pregnant women for Zika virus infection and monitoring the growth of foetus of expecting mothers who tested positive for Zika’. 

It has been asked by all health facilities and hospitals to identify a nodal officer so that the premises can be Aedes mosquito free. The advisory further says, ‘States to strengthen entomological surveillance and intensify vector control activities in residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions and health facilities’.

Zika Virus Alert in Maharashtra

In 2024, till July 2, Pune has recorded six cases in Pune and one each in Kolhapur and Sangamner. The first cases of Zika in Pune were reported by a doctor and his teenage daughter, who live in the same area as the two new cases. Following their positive test results, health officials conducted inspections and collected samples from the affected area.

Pregnant Women Infected with Zika Virus at Higher Risk

On Saturday, it was confirmed that one pregnant woman from Erandwane and a 22-year-old man from Mundhwa had also tested positive for the virus. Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, health officer for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated that among the 25 samples collected, 12 were from Erandwane, including seven from pregnant women. Out of these, two pregnant women tested positive for Zika. An additional 13 samples were collected from Mundhwa, with no reports of pregnant women testing positive.

Pregnant women infected with Zika are considered to be at higher risk, so health officials are conducting anomaly scans for them and increasing surveillance in both affected areas.

What is Zika Virus?

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.

(Inputs from PTI)