Director of state health services in Maharashtra, Dr Satish Pawar, said, "We have asked the corporations to step up surveillance and concentrate on vector control. Vector-borne diseases are more of an urban phenomenon."
With the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America, and the possibility of it reaching India looming large, the Maharashtra state health department has decided to hold a meeting on preparedness against the microbe. The department, which has a special committee on communicable diseases, will meet on February 4 to discuss guidelines on Zika virus.
Director of state health services in Maharashtra, Dr Satish Pawar, said, "We have asked the corporations to step up surveillance and concentrate on vector control. Vector-borne diseases are more of an urban phenomenon." He added that while there is nothing to panic at present, the state's technical committee on communicable diseases will meet on February 4 to discuss the guidelines.
"We have asked the National Institute of Virology, Pune, to help us with testing the Zika Virus. We have also alerted doctors to keep a watch on the possible infection and alert their respective corporations. The committee will help us further with guidelines on the same," said Dr Pawar.
Apart from Zika, the Aedes Aegpti mosquito is also a carrier of dengue and chikungunya. Zika virus was detected in May last year in Brazil. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the disease has spread to 22 countries in South America over the past six months. According to health experts, the virus presents symptoms very similar to dengue, such as fever, rash, joint pain and redness in eyes.
Meanwhile, the pesticide department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its vector control program. "We have intensified surveillance in areas that reported maximum number of dengue cases and Aedes Aegypti breeding sites. The breeding spots are found round the year, but they are less common during the non-monsoon period," said BMC pesticide officer Rajan Naringrekar. He added that Mumbaikars should not think that Aedes Aegypti bred only in monsoon. "We have found breeding spots in water storage drums, feng-shui plants, plates or bowls generally kept for feeding pets and so on. We need people's cooperation for vector control," said Naringrekar.
ZIKA VIRUS
Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it was first identified in 1947 in rhesus monkeys in Uganda, and in human beings in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania. Outbreak of the disease has been recorded in Africa, Americas, Asia and Pacific.
The symptoms of Zika are similar to dengue and chikungunya, as the disease is spread by the same mosquito. About one in five people fall ill when infected. Most common symptoms are mild fever, conjunctivitis (red eyes), headache, skin rashes and muscle or joint pain.
Till now no vaccines or medication has been found for Zika. One can, however, get plenty of rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, and take medicines such as acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided.
The best way to prevent the disease is to control mosquitoes biting human beings. Special attention should be provided to the children. Water stored in containers should be taken care of regularly, so that mosquito breeding spots can be removed.
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