With Corona in Kerala, the threat of Zika virus has started increasing concern. On Friday, 13 new cases have been reported in the state. The virus was confirmed a day earlier in a pregnant woman. The symptoms of being infected with the Zika virus are similar to those of dengue; For example, fever, rashes on the body and joint pain.
State Health Minister Veena George said that on Thursday itself, samples of 19 suspects were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. When the report came on Friday, Zika virus has been confirmed in 13 people. The infected include 13 health workers including doctors.
George told that on Thursday, the first case of infection of this virus was reported in a 24-year-old pregnant woman. A week ago, symptoms of the virus were also seen in his mother. The infected woman is a resident of Paraslane in Thiruvananthapuram. He is being treated at a private hospital here. She gave birth to a baby boy on July 7.
The woman complained of fever and headache
The woman was admitted to the hospital on June 28 due to fever, headache and red marks on her body. A hospital examination revealed suspicious symptoms of Zika. After this his sample was sent to NIV of Pune. However, the condition of the woman is normal now.
The state government on Thursday said that the woman has no travel history, but her home is on the Tamil Nadu border. A week ago, his mother also showed similar symptoms.
Zika virus can cause microcephaly in babies born to infected women while pregnant. The head of the child born due to this is smaller than normal. This can cause problems with brain development. Along with this, the newborn baby does not develop properly, as well as he may have to face hearing problems going forward.
Zika virus is a disease transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species. These mosquitoes also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day.
Once a person has been infected by a mosquito bite, the virus can be found in some people for a long time in their blood. When another mosquito bites an infected person, the virus can be spread to other people. Sexual contact with an infected person, or from contaminated blood sources can also spread Zika virus.
The first case of Zika virus was observed in monkeys in Uganda in 1947.
It was first detected in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.