Zika virus case detected in Gujarat; know symptoms, prevention and treatment

Zika virus in Gujarat: A 70-year-old patient who tested positive for Zika virus has been discharged from a private hospital in Ahmedabad after successful treatment, according to Nilam Patel, Additional Director (Public Health) in Gujarat.

Nilam Patel said the patient had been admitted with fever and joint pain, following which a sample was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. "A positive Zika virus case was identified in late October. The patient, presenting with fever, chills, and joint pain, was admitted for treatment. Preliminary testing suggested a potential Zika infection, which was confirmed by NIV Pune on October 28," he stated.

Patel further said, "By October 27, the patient’s condition had improved, and he was discharged. Our team later verified that he had no recent travel history and was a local resident of Sector 5."

From October 29 to November 3, public health teams conducted surveillance across 72 locations to identify potential Zika cases but found none. "Our preventive efforts ensured thorough monitoring, with no new suspected cases identified during that period," Patel added.

Zika, a viral infection spread primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, can also be transmitted from mother to foetus, through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation. Though symptoms are often mild, Zika can have severe implications during pregnancy, including microcephaly and other congenital conditions in newborns, as well as risks of preterm birth and miscarriage. Rarely, it may lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a serious neurological condition.

India reported its first Zika virus case in Gujarat in 2016, as per a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release. Since then, cases have been reported in several states, including Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Karnataka.