Zika Virus Claims Five Lives in Pune; Active Cases Surge to 140 Across State
Pune, 29th November 2024: The Zika virus outbreak in Maharashtra has intensified, with the total number of active cases now reaching 140. Pune has become the epicentre, reporting 109 cases, including five fatalities. The state health department has noted that nearly half of the affected patients are pregnant women, prompting enhanced preventive measures and surveillance efforts.
The five fatalities, all reported in Pune, involved senior citizens with underlying health conditions. The State Health Department’s Death Investigation Committee has confirmed that the deaths were primarily due to co-morbidities, rather than Zika itself, though the virus remains a significant health concern.
As of November 28, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has accounted for the majority of cases, with hotspots like Ahilyanagar (Sangamner) reporting 11 cases. Pune Rural recorded 10 cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) recorded six, and Sangli, Miraj, Kolhapur, Solapur, and Dadar (North) Mumbai have each recorded one patient.
A total of 2,068 blood samples were sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), of which 140 tested positive for Zika.
Among the confirmed cases, 63 are pregnant women, heightening concerns due to Zika’s potential to cause congenital disabilities. The health department has prioritised the screening and monitoring of pregnant women in affected areas, providing special guidance to reduce risks.
In response to the outbreak, the health department has ramped up surveillance in affected zones, conducting fever surveys within a three-to-five-kilometre radius of detected cases. Preventive measures include spraying insecticides to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary carriers of Zika. Symptomatic treatment is being provided to all febrile patients, and private practitioners have been instructed to report any suspected cases promptly.
Public health officials are emphasising mosquito control measures, community awareness, and the need for vigilant monitoring in vulnerable populations to curb the spread of the virus.
