Fresh cases of Zika reported in Rajasthan; total now 131
October 23, 2018 21:42
Five more people tested positive for Zika virus in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Tuesday, taking the total number of such cases to 131, a government official said.
Out of the 131 patients, 41 are pregnant women, he said.
Of the total infected, around 117 have recovered after treatment, the official said.
A senior health ministry official said the outbreak so far is localised and no other cases have been reported from any other state.
According to the latest report, out of the total 1,32,872 houses searched, 84,580 were found positive for mosquito breeding.
An Indian Council of Medical Research team recently visited Jaipur and changed the insecticides that were being sprayed to kill the mosquitoes and larvae.
The department has appealed to the people to keep doors of their residences and shops open and asked those with breathing difficulties to remain at bay during fogging activities.
The virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller in newborns.
In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district in July that year. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management.
-- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances