29 test positive for Zika virus in Jaipur, PMO seeks report; Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi on high alert
Zika virus in Jaipur: 29 people tested positive for Zika virus in Jaipur’s Shastri Nagar in Rajasthan after which the Prime Minister's Office has sought a detailed report on the matter.
Jaipur/New Delhi: In wake of suspected Zika virus outbreak in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister’s Office has sought a detailed report from the Union Health Ministry over the issue, after 29 people tested positive for Zika virus in Jaipur’s Shastri Nagar in Rajasthan. As per reports, a team from the ministry is scheduled to visit Jaipur today to review the situation. Meanwhile, Rajasthan, Bihar and Delhi were on high alert regarding the virus outbreak.
"The PMO has sought a comprehensive report on the Zika virus outbreak in Jaipur," a senior Health Ministry official said, as per reports. Speaking on this, Veenu Gupta, additional chief secretary, Medical & Health and Family Welfare Department, Rajasthan said, "Twenty nine people have tested positive so far for Zika virus and all the cases are from Jaipur’s Shahstri Nagar area. Around 450 samples have been sent for testing of which 160 are of pregnant ladies."
On the other hand, Bihar government has also issued advisories to all 38 districts of the state because one of the persons affected with Zika virus in Jaipur hails from Bihar and recently visited his home in Siwan.
Reports suggested that the Siwan resident is studying in Jaipur and had visited his home between August 28 and September 12 to appear for an exam. Following this, authorities have put his family under surveillance, as per reports. Also read: Zika virus in Rajasthan: Symptoms, causes and 5 ways to protect yourself from fatal mosquito-borne infection
The current Zika outbreak in Jaipur was detected through the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) surveillance system, a statement by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Affair stated. Some of the patients who have tested positive for Zika are reportedly being kept in an isolation ward in Jaipur’s SMS
Hospital. Meanwhile, a seven-member high-level central team was already present in the state capital to help the Rajasthan government in curbing the spread of the disease.
Besides this, a control room has also been established at the National Centre for Disease Control in order to ensure regular monitoring of the situation. Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Veenu Gupta said, “We have to fight like Kargil warriors for next 15 days,” reports said.
The symptoms of Zika virus resemble that of any other viral infections such as fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache. The first outbreak of Zika Virus in India was reported in Ahmedabad in January/February 2017 and the second outbreak was reported from Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu in 2017.