Gujarat: 70-Year-Old Man Recuperates from Zika Virus, Discharged from Hospital
A 70-year-old man from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, who was infected with the Zika virus has completed treatment and was discharged from the hospital. The patient was confirmed to be sent home by the health department of Gujarat after full recovery after being given treatment.
The Journey of the Patient
Symptoms like cold, fever, and joint pains made the geriatric man visit a local hospital on 24 October. Doctors grew anxious and made a referral to a private hospital in Ahmedabad. Medical professionals there sent samples of his bodily fluids to the NIV in Pune for testing.
Confirmation of Zika virus infection arrived four days later, although the patient had been discharged a week earlier and was fine following illness. More importantly, he reported no recent travels abroad, implying that there could have been local transmission.
Understanding Zika Virus
Zika virus is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Common symptoms include:
- Rash
- Fever
- Conjunctivitis
- Muscle and joint pain
Pregnant women are very vulnerable as Zika virus infection causes severe birth defects such as microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities.
Health Authorities' Response
Thereafter, the neighborhood of the patient was kept under surveillance by the health department. Fortunately, they could not find any other inhabitant suffering with symptoms of Zika infection, and all the family members were tested negative.
Earlier, this is not the first case of Zika virus seen. Already some outbreaks have been reported in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra this year.
The current Zika virus cases add to the existing public health challenges vector-borne diseases have posed and continue to present to India. Continued vigilance and awareness on the part of the community will be necessary to prevent any future outbreaks.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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