Kerala, which is still grappling with high number of COVID-19 cases, is now facing a new threat of Zika virus with at least 13 cases being reported in the state. According to reports, all these cases have been recorded in Thiruvananthapuram city limit.
This is for the first time Kerala has registered Zika virus cases. Though there is no anti-viral treatment or vaccine against this infection at the moment, health officials claim that Zika is not fatal and can be controlled by adequate test.
Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day. Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Symptoms typically last for 2–7 days, however, many people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms.
“Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations, known as congenital Zika syndrome. Infection with Zika virus is also associated with other complications of pregnancy including preterm birth and miscarriage,” says the guideline of World Health Organisation.
The virus is also transmitted through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ transplantation.
According to WHO, an increased risk of neurologic complications is associated with Zika virus infection in adults and children, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis.
The new virus is likely to pose a huge challenge for the health department as the state is still witnessing more than 10,000 daily COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, the state reported 13,772 cases with a test positivity rate of 10.83 per cent. As many as 142 deaths were also reported during the day.