Zika alert: Why Health Ministry wants screening of pregnant women

A CLOSE VIGIL ON MOSQUITOES

The Health Ministry has asked health facilities and hospitals to identify a nodal officer to monitor hygiene so that the premises are free of Aedes mosquitoes. It has also directed states to strengthen surveillance of mosquito populations, their behaviour and insecticide resistance in residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions and health facilities.

WHY THE CONCERN?

Zika is like any other viral infection with most cases being asymptomatic and mild, manifesting as fevers, body aches and rashes that may last a week. Though it is reported to be associated with reduced head size among the newborn, no report of any Zika-associated microcephaly has been reported in the country since 2016. Still, given our huge population, the Health Ministry is not taking any chances with screening of pregnant women. Dr Anita Kar, Director of Birth Defects Research Foundation and a member of the WHO Birth Defects Task Force, says, “The baby is at risk in 15 per cent of cases. Hence regular ultrasound tests are important to pick up any malformation that can help prospective parents decide on the further course of action.”

WHAT ABOUT PREGNANT WOMEN IN MAHARASHTRA?

Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant chief medical officer of Pune Municipal Corporation, says that both pregnant women, who tested positive for Zika, were stable and undergoing regular medical check-ups. Surveillance activities have been stepped up and indoor and outdoor fogging activities are under way in Pune.

WHICH STRAINS OF ZIKA VIRUS ARE CIRCULATING IN INDIA?

“We are detecting sporadic cases of Zika virus infection in cases which mimic dengue,” says Dr Nivedita Gupta, Head, Communicable Division, ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). Early sequencing data generated by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) had identified two different lineages of Zika. “One matched the primitive African strain and the other a strain from Brazil,” Dr Gupta adds. Different strains may result in different neurological defects as seen during outbreaks in the Pacific and South America. However, subsequent results pointed to the Zika virus strain in India being an indigenous one and not imported from South or Central America. A distinct lineage of Asian Zika virus infection may be circulating in India.

NO NEED TO PANIC

The Health Ministry has asked states to promote awareness through social media and other platforms to reduce panic among people. For timely detection and control of new cases, State authorities have been advised to be vigilant and ensure availability of appropriate logistics at all levels. States have been urged to immediately report any detected case to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and National Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC).

WHERE CAN I GET TESTED FOR ZIKA?

Zika testing facilities are available at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi and ICMR-approved diagnostic laboratories.