The Mumbai native has contracted the Zika virus. He was admitted to the Jehangir Hospital, where he has since recovered well.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune identified the first Zika virus occurrence in the city on Wednesday, which was then reported in Chembir’s M West ward. The person who was infected was a 79-year-old with other concurrent illnesses.
Since July 19, the patient has been showing symptoms like a fever, runny nose, and cough. A medical doctor treated the symptoms, and on August 2, the patient was released.
According to the health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the patient has a prior diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and thalassemia minor and experienced an angioplasty more than 20 years ago.
The third Zika virus case identified
Notably, just two Zika virus cases from the regions of Palghar and Pune were found in Maharashtra in the years 2021 and 2022, respectively.
A seven-year-old girl was discovered to have the Zika virus at the beginning of July of the current year in the Palghar district. Before this, the first patient was discovered in Pune in July of the previous year. On July 30, 2021, a 50-year-old lady who lives in the Belsar hamlet in the Purandar tehsil got the results of her test. She had been infected with chikungunya in addition to Zika.
After a four-year-old kid from the neighbourhood was found to have Japanese encephalitis (JE), the Maharashtra public health department began an eco-epidemiological survey in Wadgaon Sheri, Pune.
Symptoms of the Zika Virus
Most patients with the Zika virus don’t show any symptoms, and it is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Fever, bodily aches, and conjunctivitis are typical signs. Protection must be taken by pregnant women.
According to Dr Awate, “20% of patients with Zika have mild flu-like symptoms, while 80% of patients experience no indications at all. By getting adequate sleep, consuming sufficient water, and taking just a paracetamol tablet, one is able to recover”.
Aedes mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus are also responsible for spreading dengue as well as chikungunya.
Dr Sudhakar Shinde, another civic head, verified that “close interactions have been found, and their samples are being tested. In addition to fever, rashes on his skin, conjunctivitis, muscular and joint discomfort, malaise, and a headache, he warned the public to be on the lookout for these symptoms. It’s important to note that Zika is a mild disease; 80% of people show no symptoms, while the remaining 20% have mild flu-like symptoms”.
According to a top health official, medical health officers were told to perform active screenings and surveys alongside the requirement to send samples to the NIV for suspected instances.
The local health agency said that, “no new probable Zika virus cases had been found in the area after conducting a household survey. At the King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital, a laboratory has been set up. Dr Daksha Shah, the executive health officer, noted that after finding Aedes reproducing in building parking lots, measures to control vectors had been implemented”. The local government warned kids to maintain their calm.