In a fresh case of Zika infection, an 85-year-old woman in the Indian state of Rajasthan, which is a popular tourist destination, has tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus. The hospital administration has alerted the government on the spotting of the virus and steps are being taken to contain its spread.
The resurfacing of the virus in India was reported by Indian news agency PTI on Sunday, quoting the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital administration in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Officials of the medical college have not given any further details on the possibility of any more cases of the virus infection.
"The woman was admitted to the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital on September 11 with joint pain, redness in eyes and weakness but she tested negative for dengue and swine flu. Samples were then sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for a test of Zika virus and the report came out positive," principal of the SMS medical college Dr. U.S. Agrawal told the media.
A health expert is of the opinion that though the detection of a single case should not cause panic, the administration should definitely keep vigil.
"The infection shows symptoms such as mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle, and body ache. The fact is that only about 20% of patients show symptoms that usually last up to a week and hence it is unlikely to detect with symptoms. The situation in the latest news from Jaipur is not a case to panic but certainly a fit opportunity to monitor and increase surveillance. The administration is taking all steps in this regard here," Dr. Nilesh Kumar, a senior health consultant in Jaipur, told Sputnik.
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The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It was later identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, according to the World Health Organization. In India, three earlier cases of Zika infections were spotted two years ago. Although the infection is non-fatal, there is no treatment or vaccine for the Zika infection.