Zika Virus Testing for Pregnant Women in Affected Areas

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been directed by the Public Health Department to test all pregnant women living in areas where the Zika virus is actively being transmitted. This decision comes after the PMC reported 21 cases of Zika virus, including 10 pregnant women, since June 20. The health department has issued a letter to all zonal medical officers, hospital superintendents, and medical officers, instructing them to test all expecting mothers living within a five-kilometer radius of Zika-affected areas.

The PMC had previously been criticized for not testing enough pregnant women from these areas, with only 5% of expecting mothers being tested despite guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) recommending mandatory testing. However, the PMC is now taking steps to test the maximum number of pregnant women from active Zika virus transmission areas. Blood and urine samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing.

The PMC has identified 8 ward offices where active Zika virus transmission is occurring, including Karve Nagar-Warje, Hadapsar, Kothrud-Bavdhan, Aundh-Baner, Singhgad road, Nagar Road, Kondhwa-Yewalewadi, and Yerawada. There are 2,408 expecting mothers registered with PMC-run hospitals for antenatal care in these areas, but only 167 (7%) have been tested for virus infection.

As per central guidelines, all pregnant mothers from Zika-affected areas should undergo two ultrasound examinations. The first scan should be performed at 18-20 weeks of gestation, and the second scan between 28-30 weeks.

A suspected case of Zika virus infection has been reported in a 23-year-old pregnant woman from Paud Phata. She is five months pregnant and had visited a private clinic in Kothrud, complaining of symptoms like fever and rash. She was later treated at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. The PMC has received reports from the private laboratory and has started surveillance in the area. The woman’s samples will be sent to NIV to confirm the virus infection.

The PMC has sent 11 samples of suspected patients to NIV, including 10 samples from pregnant women. Eight samples are from Kalas, and one each from Pashan and Dahanukar Colony. Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, health officer of PMC, informed that 11 samples have been sent to NIV, including 10 from pregnant women.

This initiative aims to ensure that all pregnant women in Zika-affected areas are tested and receive necessary treatment to prevent any potential health risks.

Historical Context:

The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947, but it wasn’t until 2015 that it gained international attention after an outbreak in Brazil. Since then, the virus has spread to over 40 countries, including India, where it was first detected in 2017. The virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, and it can also be transmitted through sexual contact and blood transfusions. In pregnant women, Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly, a condition where the baby is born with a smaller-than-usual head size, as well as other birth defects.

The Indian government has been taking measures to contain the spread of the virus, including conducting surveillance, testing, and providing treatment to affected individuals. However, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has faced criticism for not testing enough pregnant women from Zika-affected areas, which has led to the current initiative to test all expecting mothers living within a five-kilometer radius of Zika-affected areas.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been directed to test all pregnant women living in areas where the Zika virus is actively being transmitted. • The decision comes after the PMC reported 21 cases of Zika virus, including 10 pregnant women, since June 20. • The health department has instructed zonal medical officers, hospital superintendents, and medical officers to test all expecting mothers living within a five-kilometer radius of Zika-affected areas. • Blood and urine samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing. • The PMC has identified 8 ward offices where active Zika virus transmission is occurring, including Karve Nagar-Warje, Hadapsar, Kothrud-Bavdhan, Aundh-Baner, Singhgad road, Nagar Road, Kondhwa-Yewalewadi, and Yerawada. • Only 7% of expecting mothers registered with PMC-run hospitals for antenatal care in these areas have been tested for virus infection. • As per central guidelines, all pregnant mothers from Zika-affected areas should undergo two ultrasound examinations. • A suspected case of Zika virus infection has been reported in a 23-year-old pregnant woman from Paud Phata, who is five months pregnant and had visited a private clinic in Kothrud. • The PMC has sent 11 samples of suspected patients to NIV, including 10 from pregnant women. • The initiative aims to ensure that all pregnant women in Zika-affected areas are tested and receive necessary treatment to prevent any potential health risks.