Zika virus: One more pregnant woman tests positive for infection, total count in Pune reaches 12

The samples will be sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) whose report–either positive /negative will be considered before announcing Zika virus infection cases. As per PMC data, a total of 83 samples of pregnant women with suspected zika virus infection have been sent to NIV.

Dr Kalpana Baliwant, acting chief medical officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, told The Indian Express that hospitals will have to obtain the consent of the pregnant woman suspected of symptoms for collecting her blood sample. The civic health officials also urged the private hospitals to remain vigilant and conduct the required screening for the ante-natal women including Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan and other relevant tests to rule out an anomaly, “We have also urged the hospitals to display educational posters as part of the awareness about preventing Zika and other vector-borne diseases,” Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant chief medical officer, PMC told The Indian Express.

“We have reiterated that all private hospitals should report dengue and Zika cases to the civic authorities. We are aware that private hospitals also conduct PCR tests but the sample has to be sent to ICMR-NIV for confirmation of Zika virus infection,” Dr Dighe added.
Meanwhile, the woman who was detected in her 7th week of pregnancy, had symptoms like fever, body ache and a rash from June 29. She visited a private hospital where a PCR test confirmed that she was positive with Zika virus infection.

The hospital also notified PMC which directed them to send the sample to Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV). The report sent by NIV also confirmed that the woman had Zika virus infection, “We are picking up more cases due to intensified surveillance,” civic health authorities said.

Sassoon hospital detects 230 cases of dengue

Even as no case of Zika virus infection has been admitted to B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, authorities have identified 230 cases of dengue viral fever, 79 with chikungunya and six with malaria from January till June this year.

Dr Yellappa Jadhav, Medical Superintendent, B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital said that serological tests were conducted on 4,066 samples this year and as per data from the Microbiology department, a total of 230 samples were positive with dengue viral fever.

The samples are sent from the patients (both OPD and IPD basis) at the hospital and several do come in from within the city and surrounding areas of Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. Last year, Sassoon general hospital had detected 693 cases of dengue viral fever, 168 of chikungunya and 28 of malaria.