Gujarat govt. issues alert in the wake of rise of Zika virus cases in neighbouring Rajasthan

Gandhinagar: Gujarat government has issued alerts in the wake of rising cases of Zika Virus infections in Jaipur, the capital of neighbouring state of Rajasthan.

An official of the health department today said that it has been advised to keep an eye on the people coming from Rajasthan with symptoms of infection. Medical teams would be kept on Airports, Railway stations, bust stands etc. for screening of suspected cases.

Hospitals are being advised to report any suspected case reaching them. Special precaution has to be taken in case of infection to pregnant women,’ he said adding that health departments of local bodies would also intensify anti mosquito and larva detection drive.

Notably the first case of Zika virus infection in India was reported from Ahmedabad in January last year while the second one was reported from Krishnagiri in South India in July that year. The disease is transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. It symptoms include fever, skin rashes, eye infection and pain in the body including joints. It is specially harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected, in newborn children.

In Jaipur the first case was detected last month when an octogenarian woman was tested positive.

DeshGujarat