Centre sends team to UP after 1st Zika case
NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Monday rushed a multi-disciplinary team to Uttar Pradesh where a case of the Zika virus disease case has been reported.
A 57-year-old Indian Air Force officer tested positive for the Zika virus in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Saturday, documenting the state’s first case of the viral disease this year.
However, the samples of 22 people who came in his contact came out be negative.
The high-level team, comprising an entomologist, public health specialists and gynaecologist drawn from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Centre for Disease Control and RML Hospital, New Delhi, shall work closely with the state health department and take a stock of the situation on the ground.
In a statement, the ministry further said it would also be assessed whether the Centre’s Action Plan for Zika managereturned ment was being implemented. The team would further recommend necessary public health interventions for containing the spread of the virus in the state.
On Sunday, Chief medical officer Dr Nepal Singh said that the IAF (warrant) officer showed symptoms of the virus, including fever, over the last few days and was admitted to the Air Force Hospital in the district.
His blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, on October 20, Singh said. The officer’s test positive on Saturday, he said.
“All the 22 samples of his family members, relatives and friends sent to King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, have tested negative,” Singh said.
Singh said health department teams were going door to door in Lal Bangla and Jajmau areas of Kanpur to see if anyone else has similar symptoms.
Health and civic bodies’ officials have been put on alert to deal with the situation. Besides, several teams have also been tasked to check the spread of the virus in the district, officials said.
Caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day, symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache
Kerala was the first state to have reported a case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman on July 8, following which a high alert was issued in the state.
IN A STATEMENT, THE MINISTRY SAID IT WOULD ALSO BE ASSESSED WHETHER GOVT’S ACTION PLAN FOR ZIKA VIRUS MANAGEMENT WAS BEING IMPLEMENTED