Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 13: The first Zika virus case has been reported in Karnataka. According to health minister K Sudhakar, a five-year-old girl from the Raichur district tested positive for the Zika virus and was afflicted. The administration was taking all necessary precautions, he noted.
“This is the first case in the state and the government is monitoring the situation very carefully. Our department is well prepared to handle it,” Minister Sudhakar said.
“We have got a lab report from Pune about the confirmed case of Zika virus. On December 5, it was processed and reported on December 8. Three specimens were sent out of which two were negative and one was positive, which is a five-year-old girl. We are keeping a vigil,” Sudhakar added.
He stated that the government is taking precautions and that surveillance (Health department) officials in Raichur and surrounding districts have received the necessary instructions to send samples for a Zika virus test in the event that any suspected infection cases are discovered in any hospitals, adding that this girl had no prior travel history.
Through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which is also known to spread diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya, the Zika virus sickness is spread. In Uganda, the virus was originally discovered in 1947.
The Minister added that the administration is cautiously monitoring the situation despite the fact that no more fresh cases of the Zika virus have been discovered in the state to yet and there is no need for concern.
