Uttar Pradesh

• 01 Nov 2021

Zika Virus Disease in Uttar Pradesh

Why in news

• On October 31, 2021, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a high-level meeting, directed the Health Department to make people aware of door-to-door sanitization and fogging to prevent the spread of Zika virus in the state.

Key Points

• The first case of Zika virus disease was reported in the state on October 22, 2021, after which sanitization, fogging and anti larva chemical spray is being done on a large scale by the state health department, so that the breeding of mosquitoes can be stopped.
• In addition, door-to-door surveys are being conducted by health workers to identify people with symptoms related to carrier-borne diseases including viral fever.
• Zika virus disease is mainly transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. In addition, the Zika virus is transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, blood and product bases, and organ transplantation.
• Infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy can cause babies to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations.
• There is no vaccine or medicine available to treat Zika. To deal with this, rehydration and acetaminophen are used to relieve fever and pain, with the focus on the symptoms in the beginning.