Zika virus: Kerala prepares action plan as 13 more cases detected in state
The first case was detected in a pregnant woman in the district on Thursday. With this, the total number of cases touched 14. The health condition of all 14 patients is normal.
FollowThiruvananthapuram: The Kerala health department has prepared an action plan to deal with the Zika outbreak as 13 more people have been confirmed with the viral infection in Thiruvananthapuram.
The first case was detected in a pregnant woman in the district on Thursday. With this, the total number of cases touched 14. The health condition of all 14 patients is normal.
"Yesterday 13 more cases turned positive, out of the 19 samples sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. Most of them are health workers and all the 14 cases (total) have been discovered from the Thiruvananthapuram district. The Health Department conducted series of meetings where the experts and top-level officials were closely monitoring the situation," added Kerala Health Minister Veena George.
Speaking at a press conference, the joint secretary in the health ministry Lav Agarwal on Friday said that Kerala will be assisted by the Centre's team to control the situation.
"There are some Zika cases which have been reported from Kerala. To monitor the situation and to support the state government, a six-member team comprising public health experts, vector-borne disease experts and clinicians from AIIMS has already been issued instructions to reach there and support the state government in terms of management of Zika there," added Lav Agarwal.
The symptoms of Zika are similar to dengue, and they include fever, rashes and joint pain.
The infection is mostly asymptomatic, and deaths are rare. However, it has a severe impact on pregnant women. It causes abortion or complications in pregnancy. The child born of an infected mother could have physical disabilities. Infection in children and elderly could result in nerve disorders. The symptoms prolong for two to seven days. The virus has an incubation period of three to 14 days.
Zika is detected using an RT-PCR test. However, only the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi and NIV, Pune, have facilities for confirming the infection.
NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona
