In response to recent Zika virus cases detected in Maharashtra, the Union Health Ministry has issued a comprehensive advisory to all states, underscoring the necessity for stringent preventive measures and constant vigilance. The advisory mandates that all states maintain heightened awareness and actively screen pregnant women for Zika infection. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring the fetal development of expecting mothers who test positive for the virus, given the serious risks associated with the infection during pregnancy.
Health facilities and hospitals have been directed to appoint a dedicated nodal officer responsible for overseeing and ensuring that their premises remain free from Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors of the Zika virus. These mosquitoes are also known to transmit other infections such as dengue and chikungunya.
Furthermore, the states have been instructed to strengthen their entomological surveillance efforts. This involves the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on mosquito populations and behavior to better understand and predict outbreaks. The advisory also calls for intensified vector control activities across various environments. These activities should target residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions, and health facilities to effectively reduce the mosquito population and mitigate the risk of Zika virus transmission.
This advisory comes in the wake of six Zika virus cases reported on July 1 in Pune, affecting both the Erandwane and Mundhwa areas. Among the infected individuals were two pregnant women, highlighting the urgent need for focused interventions to protect this vulnerable group.
The Zika virus, first identified in Uganda in 1947, poses significant public health concerns, particularly for pregnant women. Infection during pregnancy can lead to microcephaly, a severe congenital condition characterized by an abnormally small head and brain due to impaired brain development. This potential outcome underscores the critical importance of the measures outlined in the health ministry's advisory to prevent and control the spread of the Zika virus.
