Zika outbreak in Rajasthan: 120 tested positive, govt launches awareness programme

Around 120 people have tested positive for Zika virus in Rajasthan, state health minister Kalicharan Saraf said on Monday.

‘Till, now, 120 people have tested positive for Zika Virus in the state out of which 105 of them have been treated,’ he said, adding that door-to-door survey is being done for screening and awareness of the virus.

He further said that the disease can be cured within one week if adequate preventive measures are followed by the patients. ‘According to medical experts, the Zika fever can be cured if patients, who are suffering from it, get plenty of rest, drink ample amount of water, and take medicines such as paracetamol, they can get cured within a week,’ Saraf added.

The Zika virus disease, a mosquito-borne viral infection is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day. Symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations, known as congenital Zika syndrome. Infection with Zika virus is also associated with other complications of pregnancy including preterm birth and miscarriage. 

Meanwhile, failing to take appropriate measures to contain India’s biggest outbreak of Zika virus in the state capital Jaipur, now the state health department is trying to shift the onus for the spread of disease onto the people.

In a recently-conducted media sensitisation workshop organised by the department in which health minister Kalicharan Saraf, additional chief secretary (medical and health) Veenu Gupta, SMS Medical College principal Dr Sudhir Bhandari along with top officials of the health department were present, the health officials said that the people in the affected area are responsible for the spread of Zika virus to other areas. 

When asked about counselling the positive cases and mosquito containing activities during the initial stage of the outbreak, the department officials did not have any answer.

(With inputs from ANI)