First Pregnant Woman Diagnosed with Zika in Pune; Total Cases Rise to 5

PUNE: The city has reported its first case of a pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus, marking the fifth case in the last 10 days. The woman, who lives in Erandwane, was identified through the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) surveillance efforts after two other Zika cases were found in the area. She is currently receiving treatment and will undergo further testing.

Out of the five Zika cases, three are from Erandwane and two are from Mundhwa. Dr. Amitav Banerjee, an epidemiologist, explained that Zika is particularly concerning for pregnant women because it can cause microcephaly, a condition where the baby is born with a smaller head. This risk is higher if the infection occurs during the first trimester when the baby’s head is developing.

The detection of Zika in a pregnant woman has raised alarms among health experts and authorities. Dr. Banerjee noted that the virus might be widespread in the community and can only be detected through testing, similar to dengue and chikungunya, which are also spread by mosquitoes.

Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, PMC’s deputy health officer, confirmed that the pregnant woman, aged 28, lives in Ganeshnagar. Her infection was confirmed on May 28 after samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV). The woman’s sonography report in May showed no abnormalities in the fetus, but an updated report is expected on Monday.

Dr. Rajesh Dighe, PMC’s assistant health officer, mentioned that none of the five Zika cases have any travel history. The pregnant woman lives just 150 meters away from the doctor’s house, who was the first reported case. The PMC has collected three more samples and is conducting surveillance in Mundhwa. Over 3,000 homes in Erandwane and 3,100 in Mundhwa have been surveyed. The PMC found and discarded multiple containers, plastic cans, and tires where water could collect and breed mosquitoes. Residents have been educated on taking precautions, and fogging activities have been carried out in both areas.

Dr. Ameet Dravid, an infectious disease expert from Noble Hospital, stated that Zika is likely prevalent in the community since the patients did not have any travel history and are from different locations. He added that Zika testing is less common because it costs around Rs 6,000, and the treatment is the same as for dengue.

Dr. Aarti Kinikar, head of the pediatric department at BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, explained that microcephaly can be caused by various infections, including Zika, rubella, and herpes, especially during the first three months of pregnancy when the baby’s brain is rapidly developing. These infections can pass through the placenta and halt the development of organs, resulting in a smaller head size.

Epidemiologists are concerned about the rising number of Zika cases coinciding with the time when thousands of pilgrims enter the city for the Palkhi festival. However, civic officials are making arrangements to prevent an outbreak by setting up health camps and having doctors check for symptoms and provide necessary medications.