Gujarat intensifies steps to prevent Zika Virus outbreak on large scale, one case confirmed so far

Ahmedabad/Palanpur/Gandhinagar: Even as the capital city of neighbouring Rajasthan, Jaipur has seen around 140 cases of Zika Virus infection in last one month and Gujarat has also seen one such case and put its system on alert in the wake of it, the AMC run V S hospital in the largest city of the state where the first case of Zika infection in India was also detected in January last year has finally set up an isolation ward for it.

Princiapal Secretary health and Health commissioner Jayanti Ravi today said that One case of Zika virus infection has so far been reported this year in Gujarat and the patient has been cured. It was in Amraiwadi area of Ahmedabad and was detected on October 22.

So far samples of 257 pregnant women suffering have been taken and of the 135 reports received so far, all are negative. In 14 wards of Ahmedabad including Amraiwadi where over 7 lakh population lives, have been fogged and larva control has been done.

She said that Zika virus has zero mortality but precaution should be taken.

A senior doctor in VS hospital said that the 20 bed isolation ward has been put in a ready to use condition as a precautionary measure. Its doors and windows have been given net protection as the virus carried by mosquitoes.

Meanwhile, the AMC has started fogging and larva killing exercise in parts of old city including Amraiwadi and Khokhara.

Routine checking of passengers coming from Rajasthan with suspected symptoms on various railway stations and bus stations including bordering Palanpur were on. Pamphlets regarding awareness were also being distributed.

Gujarat government had almost two weeks ago 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 have been 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 which causes Dengue and Chicken Guinea . 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