Zika virus infection in India
India's first three cases of the Zika virus were reported between February 2016 and January 2017 in Ahmedabad, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the outbreak on Friday. 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. On May 15, 2017, the three cases are confirmed in two pregnant women and one in an elderly man. The laboratory surveillance detected a laboratory-confirmed case of Zika virus disease through RT-PCR test at B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The etiology of this case has been further confirmed through a positive RT-PCR test and sequencing at the national reference laboratory, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune on 4 January 2017. Two additional cases, have then been identified through the Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and the Antenatal clinic (ANC) surveillance.
Case 1: During the Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) surveillance between 10 to 16 February 2016, a total of 93 blood samples were collected at BJ Medical College (BJMC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat State. One sample from a 64-year-old male presenting with febrile illness of 8 days’ duration (negative for dengue infection) was found to be positive for Zika virus at BJMC, Ahmedabad. This is the first Zika positive case reported through AFI surveillance at BJMC, Ahmedabad, Gujarat State.
Case 2: A 34-year-old female, delivered a clinically well baby at BJMC in Ahmedabad on 9 November 2016. During her hospital stay, she developed a low grade fever after delivery. No history of fever during pregnancy and no history of travel for the past three months was reported. A sample from the patient was referred to the Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at the BJMC for dengue testing and thereafter found to be positive for Zika virus. She was discharged after one week (on 16 November 2016). The sample was re-confirmed as Zika virus positive by RT-PCR and sequencing at NIV, Pune.
Case 3: During the Antenatal clinic (ANC) surveillance between 6 and 12 January 2017, a total of 111 blood samples were collected at BJMC. One sample from a 22-year-old pregnant female in her 37th week of pregnancy has been tested positive for Zika virus disease.
Gujarat health commissioner J P Gupta said on Saturday, "We confirm that Zika virus has random presence in Ahmedabad. We cannot say if the virus was brought from outside or was indigenous." Following this, we have launched a massive anti-mosquito drive in 2017 to reduce the population of vectors and control spread of malaria, dengue, chikungunya and Zika — all of which are spread through mosquitoes.
More information on ZIKA virus:
http://iictenvis.nic.in/Database/Zikavirus_1448.aspx
http://www.icmr.nic.in/zika/zika.htm
Prevention of ZIKA virus:
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/
Frequently asked questions on ZIKA virus:
http://iictenvis.nic.in/Database/FAQs_1449.aspx
Source:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/26-may-2017-zika-ind/en/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/who-confirms-indias-1st-zika-virus-cases-in-ahmedabad/articleshow/58876030.cms