In a first reported case of Zika Virus, the Karnataka Health department is on high alert after a five-year-old girl from Raichur district in north Karnataka has tested positive for the virus.
The state government has directed the health department to begin all precautionary measures from Tuesday to curb the disease.
The officials are collecting the travel history of the girl and safety measures have already been initiated in the neighborhood and surroundings her residence.
After taking blood and urine samples of the parents and family members, five persons have tested negative so far.
Health Minister Dr K. Sudhakar had stated that the government is prepared to handle the situation and the tests done by the National Institute of Virology from Pune has confirmed the disease.
On November 13, the girl was infected with fever after which her parents got her admitted to the Government Hospital in Sindhanur. There it was detected that she is infected with Dengue fever. The girl was later shifted to Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) and administered treatment from November 15 to 18. The doctors had sent her urine and blood samples to the Pune laboratory.
The experts say that the cold, cloudy weather and drizzles across the state due to Mandous cyclone has further complicated the situation as the virus spread faster under these circumstances.
What is Zika virus?
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus first identified in Uganda in 1947 in a Rhesus macaque monkey followed by evidence of infection and disease in humans in other African countries in the 1950s, according to the World Health Organisation.
It is transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species of mosquito. These mosquitoes usually bite during day time. The virus also spreads through unprotected intercourse and blood transmission.
Symptoms
Severe symptoms of fever, body pain, and pain in joints, rash, and conjunctivitis are found in persons affected with Zika virus.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
