Zika: doctors advise caution at this time of celebration



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A few days after the Indian Medical Research Council's surveillance system detected more than 30 positive cases of Zika virus – currently reported by 86 countries – Delhi doctors urged extreme caution, saying the virus could travel with people infected during the holiday season. sees a lot of movement between states.

Similar symptoms

The symptoms of Zika virus disease are similar to those of other viral infections such as dengue fever and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, discomfort and headache.

R.K. Singal, Senior Consultant, Director and Coordinator of Medical and Allied Services, Internal Medicine at BLK Super Specialty Hospital, said, "The Zika virus primarily afflicts people by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse with an infected person, from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy or to birth, as well as through blood transfusion.

Zika: doctors advise caution at this time of celebration

Dr. Singal added that most patients had only mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle aches.

Serious complications rarely include Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Symptoms can last from several days to a week.

"There is no vaccine to prevent Zika," he said.

Mr Singal added that the confirmation of the virus in Jaipur could also be alarming for Delhi, as it comes in the middle of the festival season, when many Indians move, which increases the risk of spreading the virus.

Uncommon

The treatment is mainly symptomatic and includes bed rest, fluid intake to prevent dehydration and paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.

The Zika virus is not common in India at present. In 2017, only three laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus were reported in Gujarat.

A total of 32 positive laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection have been detected so far in Jaipur, Rajasthan. And that number will only increase, said a senior health official.

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In a statement that he issued, he added that the Zika virus is being implanted in India and that it is now here to stay. The public is uninformed about Zika and diagnostic facilities are not available everywhere.

He added that, if enhanced surveillance at community level, including at airports and international ports, was urgently needed to monitor cases of acute febrile illness, it was essential to raise public awareness of the disease, including through preventive measures. At the same time, the public should be assured that there is no need to panic.

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