New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has advised states to maintain continuous vigilance by screening pregnant women for Zika virus infection and monitoring the fetal growth of expecting mothers who test positive.
Health facilities and hospitals have been instructed to designate a nodal officer to ensure that the premises remain free of Aedes mosquitoes. States have also been directed to bolster entomological surveillance and intensify vector control activities in various settings such as residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions, and health facilities.
In Pune, two additional cases of Zika virus infection were reported on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the city to six. Both new cases involve pregnant women residing in Erandwane. The first case of the virus was reported by a doctor and his teenage daughter who lived in the same area as the two new cases.
Health officials have conducted inspections and collected samples from the affected area. Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, the health officer for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), mentioned that out of the 25 samples collected, 12 were from Erandwane, and seven included pregnant women, with two testing positive. Additionally, 13 samples were collected from Mundhwa, but none tested positive.
Pregnant women infected with Zika are considered to be at higher risk. Therefore, health officials have been conducting anomaly scans and increasing surveillance in the affected areas. Efforts are being made to control the outbreak and prevent further infections in the city.
The PMC has urged citizens to follow the guidelines and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. The police have assured that they are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to control the spread of the virus in the city.
