Zika virus appears in India
Deadly Zika virus disease has entered India, as confirmed by World Health Organisation WHO report first three cases in Ahmedabad of Gujarat.
In Ahmedabad a pregnant lady of Bapunagar area had the virus. A 22 year old pregnant lady in her 37th week of pregnancy was tested positive for Zika virus disease at the same hospital.
The disease spreads using the daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes and an infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects in newborns known as microcephaly–a condition in which babies’ head is abnormally small. It is characterised by brain damage and may cause other defects like blindness, deafness, and even seizures.
Health authorities have also confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat State, India,” the global health body said in a statement.
As per source.
The risk of further spread of Zika virus to areas where the competent vectors, the aedes mosquitoes, are present is significant given the wide geographical distribution of these mosquitoes in various regions of the world. Those infected with the virus may have mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. While countries in the Caribbean are worst hit by the disease, a large number of cases have been reported from South and Central America.
