Zika Virus’s Entry In Maharashtra, A 50 Year Old Woman Tests positive in Pune

New Delhi: Maharashtra is fighting a big battle against COVID-19 and Zika virus has also made its entry into the state. The first case of Zika virus infection has been reported in Maharashtra. A 50-year-old lady from Belsar village in Purandar tehsil in Pune district was tested positive for Zika virus infection. The state government is worried about this first case of the Zika virus. According to medical experts, when symptoms of Zika virus infection do occur, they usually begin two to 14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms usually last for about a week and most people recover fully.

A woman from Belsar village had a fever in July and she was detected with chikungunya and tested positive for the Zika virus. She had symptoms from July 15 and her sample was taken and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) conducted a test on July 30. According to the sources, Of the three members in the family, the woman had the co-infection of Zika and chikungunya, her daughter had chikungunya fever while her son was found not infected with any infection. The Pune district administration has urged people not to panic because of the Zika infection.

A team from NIV had visited the village and collected 41 samples from Belsar and Parinche villages. Of these, 25 tested positive for chikungunya while three tested positive for dengue virus, Zika is a mosquito-borne disease and common symptoms of the disease are body ache, conjunctivitis, retro-orbital pain and skin rashes.

How Zika Spreads

Through mosquito bites

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.

·  These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in or near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots, and vases. They prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people.

o Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue, and Zika bite during the day and night.

· A mosquito gets infected with a virus when it bites an infected person during the period of time when the virus can be found in the person’s blood, typically only through the first week of infection.

· Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

From mother to child

· A pregnant woman can pass the Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy. Zika is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. We are studying the full range of other potential health problems that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.

· A pregnant woman already infected with the Zika virus can pass the virus to her fetus during the pregnancy or around the time of birth.

· Zika virus has been found in breast milk. Possible Zika virus infections have been identified in breastfeeding babies, but Zika virus transmission through breast milk has not been confirmed. Additionally, we do not yet know the long-term effects of the Zika virus on young infants infected after birth. Because current evidence suggests that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of the Zika virus spreading through breast milk, CDC continues to encourage mothers to breastfeed, even if they were infected or lived in or traveled to an area with the risk of Zika. CDC continues to study Zika virus and the ways it can spread and will update recommendations as new information becomes available.

Through sex

· Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her partners. Zika can be passed through sex, even if the infected person does not have symptoms at the time. Learn how to protect yourself during sex.

o It can be passed from a person with Zika before their symptoms start, while they have symptoms, and after their symptoms end.

o Though not well documented, the virus may also be passed by a person who carries the virus but never develops symptoms.

·  Studies are underway to find out how long Zika stays in the semen and vaginal fluids of people who have Zika, and how long it can be passed to sex partners. We know that Zika can remain in semen longer than in other body fluids, including vaginal fluids, urine, and blood.

Through blood transfusion

· To date, there have not been any confirmed blood transfusion transmission cases in the United States.

·  There have been multiple reports of possible blood transfusion transmission cases in Brazil.

·  During the French Polynesian outbreak, 2.8% of blood donors tested positive for Zika and in previous outbreaks, the virus has been found in blood donors.

Through laboratory and healthcare setting exposure

·  There are reports of laboratory-acquired Zika virus infections, although the route of transmission was not clearly established in all cases.

· To date, no cases of Zika virus transmission in healthcare settings have been identified in the United States. Recommendations are available for healthcare providers to help prevent exposure to Zika virus in healthcare settings.

Risks

· Anyone who lives in or travels to an area with risk of Zika and has not already been infected with Zika virus can get it from mosquito bites. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.