AIRPORTS, PORTS ON ZIKA ALERT

After three cases of Zika virus in Ahmedabad were made public, alerts have been issued at airports in both TS and AP to screen people arriving from notified countries.

All international airports and ports have been alerted to display information on the virus. Health officers and the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme are monitoring the airport premises.

The World Health Organisation has issued no advisory against travel to India for now on Zika virus. They are working with the government to understand the nature of the incidence and how it has occurred.

One of the cases detected in Ahmedabad in January was of a 34-year-old woman who delivered a baby on November 9 and developed very low grade fever after the delivery. She had no history of fever and her samples were sent for testing for dengue, but she tested positive for the Zika virus.

Zika virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is active during the day. The symptoms mimic that of dengue, with mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pains and headache. It lasts for two to seven days but there can be complications leading to multi-organ failure causing death.

There is no treatment for Zika virus as of now. The fever has to be treated with paracetamol and pain medication.

The person must take sufficient water and proper rest to allow the body to deal with the virus.

Pregnant woman have to be very careful as it leads to deformities in the foetus.