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Maharashtra: Center sent medical team after first case of Zika virus surfaced

After the first case of Zika virus arrived in Pune, Maharashtra, the central government has sent a three-member team. This team along with the state government will monitor the situation for the prevention of this virus. Apart from this, the preparations of the state government will be reviewed at the ground level. Significantly, recently cases of Zika virus were also found in Kerala. After Kerala, the government is alert after getting Zika patients in Maharashtra.

The team includes a gynecologist from Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Medical College and an entomologist from the National Institute of Malaria Research. These teams will monitor the virus situation in the state and assess whether the action plan for Zika management of the Union Health Ministry is being implemented.

Let us tell you, the first case of Zika virus infection in Maharashtra was reported in Pune district on Sunday. The state health department had told that the female patient found infected has fully recovered. The department had said in a statement, “She and her family members have no symptoms.” According to the statement, the investigation report of a 50-year-old woman resident of Belsar village of Purandar tehsil was received on Friday. The report said that apart from Zika infection, she was also suffering from Chikungunya.

In Kerala too, there was a stir due to the arrival of two new patients.

The health department said that early last month, several cases of fever were reported from a village in Purandar. Out of the samples sent to Pune for testing, three were found to be Chikungunya positive. After this, samples were sent to more people of the village and that area, out of which 25 cases of chikungunya, three cases of dengue and one case of Zika virus infection were reported.

The Quick Response Team of Maharashtra Health Department visited the area on Saturday and informed the locals about the precautions they should take.

Earlier, this year only cases of Zika virus were reported in Kerala, while 63 cases have been reported so far.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which also spreads dengue and chikungunya. Some of the common symptoms are conjunctivitis, fever, body aches, rash, muscle and joint pain and headache. According to the warnings of the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms usually last between two to seven days. However, most infected people do not develop symptoms.