Maharashtra: 8 cases of Zika virus in 15 days, prompts nationwide

Eight Zika virus cases detected in Maharashtra have sparked concern, prompting the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to issue an advisory to all states.

The advisory emphasised the need for heightened vigilance and directed healthcare facilities to screen pregnant women for potential Zika infection.

Six of the confirmed cases are from Pune, with the remaining two located in Kolhapur and Sangamner.

Atul Goel, director general of health services, has directed states to closely monitor the situation. 

Zika virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, is a cause for particular concern among pregnant women, as the infection can transfer through the placenta and cord to reach the foetus.

Aedes aegypti is also responsible for the spread of dengue and chikungunya.

The infection can lead to microcephaly, a birth defect characterised by an abnormally small head in newborns, said Rajesh Dighe, assistant chief medical officer at Pune Municipal Corporation.

The number of cases reported from Pune appears to be increasing or originating solely in the city as a result of the Zika testing facility at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and widespread surveillance, according to Dighe.

A number of private hospitals are also linked to the NIV and they send samples directly for testing, he added.

From the first case reported on June 20 to July 4, the PMC screened 21,441 patients.