An outbreak of Zika virus in the country has been confirmed. Along with the government, the World Health Organization has also confirmed the first three cases of Zika virus, which were reported from Ahmadabad.
All of these cases stemmed from the Bapunagar area in Gujarat, and have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-Government of India. The situation does not call to panic however, it is is certainly the time to take precautions.
The WHO describes the situation as under:
On 15 May 2017, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-Government of India (MoHFW) reported three laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat, State, India. The routine laboratory surveillance detected a laboratory-confirmed case of Zika virus disease through RT-PCR test at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Two additional cases, have then been identified through the Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and the Antenatal clinic (ANC) surveillance
The Zika is a virus similar to the Dengue, and is carried by the edes Aegypti mosquito, which is present in surplus in the country. The same mosquito is responsible or spreading dengue and chikungunya. The mosquito gets particularly better at transmitting this virus during summers, and the hotter the temperature, the better its ability to transmit the disease.
While not usually fatal and quite treatable, the Zika virus can cause you to suffer from mild fever, headache, skin rash, muscle and joint pain, malaise and conjunctivitis. These symptoms may last anywhere between 5 to 7 days.
The virus is particularly deadly while it affects pregnant women (who are known to be an easy target to Zika) and, it can lead to severe issues with the unborn baby — including, issues with brain development and microcephaly.
Take precautions:
- Make sure there are no mosquito breeding hotspots around your house, including places filled with old water.
- You should use use mosquito repellents to protect yourself from mosquito bites. The mosquito that carries the Zika is particularly rampant between dawn and dusk..
- Cancel travel to the affected areas, if possible at all.
- Women should avoid becoming pregnant while traveling in, and for 8 weeks after leaving an area with active ZIKV transmission. Again, they are easy targets for the Zika.
- If traveling to affected areas, strictly follow individual protective measures to prevent mosquito bites.
- Report to the nearest health facility, if you feel any of the symptoms set in.
Stay safe people, avoid mosquitos, and if you feel any of the symptoms set in, instantly seek medical attention.
