Madhya Pradesh On Alert As Number Of Mosquito-Spread Zika Virus Cases Rise To 159 In Just Five Months
Zika virus has drawn worldwide attention as it has been linked with fetal microcephaly.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Bhopal has reported the prevalence of Uganda strain of recombinant Zika Virus in Madhya Pradesh. The state has reported 159 Zika cases ever since it was first detected in September.
The sequencing took place at AIIMS-Bhopal laboratory and report is being submitted to the government, said director, Dr Sarman Singh, on Friday. Fully-sequenced MP¡¯s virus genome is Uganda strain of Zika, which is not a severe strain, he added.
Zika virus has drawn worldwide attention as it has been linked with fetal microcephaly. It is a strain of Zika in pregnant women that can cause subsequent birth defects. Around 20 pregnant women in MP have been diagnosed for Zika virus.
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"More than 3 months since the Zika outbreak in MP, state health department had been unable to get conclusive evidence of virus strain from National Institute of Virology (NIV). The affected pregnant women were under constant monitoring. Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) experts had been deployed for ground monitoring of Zika infected. Special teams were also deployed in Rajasthan and MP," said an official.
Reuters
The NIV sequenced the Rajasthan virus¡¯ genometo to be Brazilian-like strain. The NIV analysed Zika strain from a patient in Gujarat, was found to be close to a Malaysian Zika strain.
Zika lineages African (AF) and Asian (AS) target the human placenta. A 2018 study found that ¡®AF strains of Zika early in pregnancy would likely result in pregnancy loss, rather than allow further fetal development with accompanying brain damage¡¯.
Reuters
Between September and November, with Bhopal reporting 54, Vidisha 50, Hoshangabad 2, Sehore 21, Sagar 2 and Raisen 1. Two laboratory confirmed Zika deaths reported from Madhya Pradesh. In both these cases, death was due to concurrent co-morbid conditions (due to septic shock with dengue encephalitis in one case and multi-organ failure due to septic shock in the other), according to information provided in Rajya Sabha.
