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Ever since June, there has been an elevated inflow of Zika virus cases in the city of Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, and the total number of cases registered has gone up to 66, making the people and the state machinery gape in horror. The primary mode of the Zika virus spreading is through the bite of the infected mosquitos of the Aedes species and can cause great concerns to health, especially to pregnant women.
Current Scenario
The city health services had already predicted an outbreak of cases in the city. “There is enough cause for grave concern for an upsurge in Zika virus cases,” said Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, the health officer in Pune. “To contain the spread by stepping up surveillance and control.”
Classic symptoms of Zika are high fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, lethargy, and headaches. While these symptoms only prevail for two to seven days, risks associated with expectant mothers become very high, with the potential risks of microcephaly and other birth defects in the baby.
Reaction of Public Health
The pandemic took cue and immediately the Pune Municipal Corporation launched a full-fledged campaign to check the spread. There would include the following:
- House-to-hose Surveillance: The medical fraternity is going door-to-door so that any suspected patients can be isolated and evacuated without delay.
- Mosquito Control: A more significant struggle is fought against mosquitoes. This involved fumigation, mosquito net treatments, and the destruction of mosquito breeding areas.
- Informational campaigns: The government is organizing campaigns to make people aware and use repellents and long-sleeved clothes to keep mosquitoes at bay, even by avoiding water accumulation as these may be the possible breeding sites for mosquitoes.
- Medical preparedness: Clinics and hospitals are fully prepared in Pune. Training of the medical staff on proper diagnosis and treatment of Zika patients is being conducted. Separate wards to treat Zika patients have been arranged.
Challenges faced:
Even with all these preventive measures, the condition is still worrisome. The situation has worsened this rainy season, considering the mosquitoes as a bigger threat to people. The epidemic was very hard to put down since due to the rapid pace of urbanization of Pune, it is accompanied by a dense population.
Moreover,
it is difficult to diagnose and eliminate because most of its symptoms are similar to other diseases like dengue and chikungunya, that are also transmitted by mosquitoes. According to Dr. Sunita Kulkarni, an infectious diseases specialist, early and accurate diagnosis is imperative. By and large, it has been relied on to identify Zika from other related disorders.
The rising number of Zika virus cases in Pune has alarmed international health organizations. Already, this has been reported to the World Health Organization, and joint efforts are in progress to understand the epidemic—meanwhile, development of counter-measures.
ICMR has entered the scientific pursuit to monitor the evolution of the virus and the containment measures. “We are monitoring the situation very closely and are working with the local authorities to provide technical support and resources,” said Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director-General of the ICMR.
The unfortunate events in Pune only serve to reaffirm that these vector-borne diseases are here to stay. No doubt the outbreak has to be contained at all costs, but other things must also be done so that this does not recur. This requires sustained research, a robust infrastructure for surveillance of diseases, and continuous public health initiatives.
The common people should be informed about the current status and should heed the advice given by the health authorities to protect themselves. Finally, community efforts, together with the unwavering commitment of the medical community, can save the community from this current health crisis. Perhaps some quick thinking and a strong effort at this challenging time for Pune can prevent the spread and safeguard the health and lives of the general public.
