One more person has been detected with the Zika virus in Jaipur, the second case in Rajasthan in 12 days, and the fourth in the country. The infection has been confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune that is testing 11 other samples from suspected patients.
The latest patient is 17-year-old Taiyeb, a resident of Sector 3, Housing Board (Shastri Nagar area) as per the reports accessed by DNA from SMS Medical College. His blood sample was collected during a screening process initiated in the area, after his case was reported on September 23 — two days after the first case was confirmed by NIV on September 21.
"The information has been shared with the Health Directorate," said an official from SMS Medical College. A total of eight samples from Rajasthan were sent to the NIV for testing. "Out of these, reports for seven samples are still awaited," an official from SMS medical college said.
"The situation could be dangerous because as of now, the department is only in the screening and survey stage," an official from the Health department said. "No prevention or protection activity has been taken up in the affected areas."
Sources containment plans were affected after a person residing in Sector 3 in the same area, suspected to have Zika-like symptoms, migrated to Hanumangarh district. "No steps for isolation or making the suspected-patients' residences mosquito-proof have been taken so far," the official added.
PAST CASES
- Rajasthan is the second state to have a confirmed case of the dreaded Zika virus.
- In May 2017, three laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika were reported from Bapu Nagar in Ahmedabad.
- In November 2016, a 34-year-old woman was detected with the virus after she delivered a clinically healthy baby in Ahmedabad.
Mosquito Type & Symptoms
Zika virus infection is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Zika virus is also transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ transplantation. Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache, that typically last for 2–7 days. Most people with Zika virus do not show symptoms.
Threat And Treatment
Zika virus can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations during pregnancy. It is known as congenital Zika syndrome. Infection with Zika virus is also associated with other complications, including preterm birth and miscarriage. In pregnant women, Zika can cause birth defects such as microcephaly — unusually small heads — and other brain abnormalities in babies in the womb. The infection can also cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that results in paralysis. No treatment available.
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Mosquito Type & Symptoms
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