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Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Department sounds Zika virus alert in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district after a positive case was found at Sidlaghatta area, located close to the Bengaluru Urban district. Special meetings have also been held by the health authorities and officers have been given clear directions to mitigate the crisis in the initial stages.
Zika virus has been discovered near Bengaluru and all infected cases in the area are now being analysed. As per the health department, the virus was detected in a mosquito in Chikkaballapur after it was sent for examination in August. A surveillance has been issued in the 5-kilometre radius of Talabetta from where the sample belonged.
Health officials swung into action immediately after the development and initiated preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus.
The officers have collected blood samples of 30 pregnant women and seven persons with fever symptoms and sent them for testing to Bengaluru. The samples were collected from the villages located within the five km radius of Talakayala Betta village.
After learnt about the cases, the officers had personally visited Venkatapura, Dibburahalli, Bachchanahalli, Vaddahalli and others and taken stock of the situation. Chikkaballapura District Health Officer Mahesh Kumar confirmed the detection of the Zika virus in Chikkaballapura district.
State health authorities are closely observing about 5,000 people in the region.
What is Zika Virus?
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause a range of symptoms in humans. It is firstly transmitted to people through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are active during the day. The virus is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda, where it was first identified in 1947.
Zika Virus Symptoms
Many people infected with the Zika virus do not show any symptoms. However, those who do may experience mild symptoms such as:-
