Zika Virus Resurfaces in Western India: Pune Doctor and Daughter Test Positive

The Zika virus has made a reappearance in western India, with a Pune-based doctor and his teenage daughter testing positive for the infection. This marks the first two cases of Zika in Pune this year, following the identification of cases in Mumbai last year. The virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, particularly Aedes mosquitoes, and with the onset of the rainy season, the risk of infection increases as mosquitoes breed rapidly.

Dr. Jatin Ahuja, a Senior Consultant in Infectious Disease at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, explains that the Zika virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen belonging to the flavivirus family, which includes dengue and yellow fever viruses. The virus was first identified in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947 but gained global attention in 2015 during a significant outbreak in the Americas, notably in Brazil, where it was linked to a surge in cases of microcephaly – a severe birth defect.

Zika virus, carried by Aedes mosquitoes, can thrive both indoors and outdoors, posing a threat even during nighttime despite being primarily day biters. While approximately 80% of those infected show no symptoms, mild manifestations like fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, headaches, and conjunctivitis can occur within a week of being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Transmission of Zika virus occurs mainly through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The virus can also spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Pregnant women face heightened risks, as the virus can pass through the placenta to the fetus, potentially causing birth defects like microcephaly.

Preventive measures against Zika virus include avoiding mosquito bites by using repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing, eliminating stagnant water, and staying in screened or air-conditioned spaces. Pregnant women or those planning pregnancy are advised against traveling to regions with active Zika transmission, and safe sex practices are recommended to prevent sexual transmission. While there is no specific antiviral treatment for Zika, symptomatic care with rest, hydration, and pain relief medications like paracetamol is essential.