Zika virus: Government issues national advisory

After detecting cases of Zika virus in Gujarat, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is considering a robust campaign against the deadly virus which is similar to dengue as Aedes aegypti is the main vector species of the Zika virus as well.

Under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Union Health Ministry has formulated national guidelines for Zika virus disease.

“As the cases have now emerged in India also, we have forwarded travel advisory and guidelines for integrated vector management for control of Ades mosquito to all the states to follow strictly,” said a senior official from the Ministry. “Under the guidelines, we will soon launch a campaign similar to dengue because the vector is same in both the diseases. Government campaigns have helped increase awareness about dengue, now people should know about Zika also,” the official said.

As per the national guidelines for Zika for integrated vector management for control of Ades mosquito, at community level, people should form groups to supplement and reinforce efforts at the household level. Such groups can identify commercial activities such as traders dealing in used tyres or small construction projects, which may be creating larval habitats for the vector. The groups should launch awareness campaigns on the disease and seek cooperation for prevention of mosquito breeding and protection from mosquito bites.

The Ministry has asked people not to panic after the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported the first three “laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease” in

India — all from the Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad. While the latest case is of a pregnant woman who tested positive in January this year, the first sample dates back to February 2016. “The three patients had not travelled overseas and acquired the infection locally. There is no need to panic. Both pregnant women delivered healthy babies and all the three patients had recovered,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR), Union Health Ministry.

When the virus infects a pregnant woman, its can cause birth defects such as microcephaly.

DOS AND DON’TS

• Use bed-net at home and hospital during Dengue/ Zika Virus fever
   
• Wear full sleeved clothing and apply mosquito repellent
   
• Use paracetamol for fever
   
• Don’t allow water to stagnate in and around your house
   
• Don’t use Aspirin to treat fever

SYMPTOMS

• The incubation period of Zika virus disease is likely to be a few days
   
• The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and  joint  pain, malaise and headache
   
• These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days
   
• Only one  out of four infected people develop symptoms