Zika virus infection, Kerala reports first case
Kerala has reported the first case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman.
It has been officially confirmed that Kerala has reported its first case of Zika virus - a mosquito-borne viral infection in the blood samples of a 24-year-old pregnant woman in Thiruvananthapuram.
On Thursday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that "the first case of mosquito-borne disease Zika virus has been reported in a 24-year-old pregnant woman in the state. According to doctors the condition of the woman is stable. She has delivered her baby on June 7. The patient was diagnosed and hospitalised at KIMS".
As per reports, Health Minister has also said that "19 samples were sent to NIV and 13 from Thiruvananthapuram from where the first case was reported and is suspected for infection. All 13 are healthcare professionals".
After the case, samples of 13 persons, suspected to be positive for Zika virus, have been collected and sent for the investigation to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
The symptoms of Zika virus include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. Whereas, inn some cases patients may not develop any symptoms.
The virus spreads through the Aedes species of mosquitoes, which is found in high density across the state. Aedes mosquitoes, which are also carriers of dengue, breed in stagnant freshwater and rest mostly indoors. A person infected with Zika virus is affected for 7 to 8 days. This virus mostly affects pregnant women. The child born due to this is born with an underdeveloped brain.
