Zika virus: Central team asks Karnataka doctors to monitor scans of pregnant women

Health department officials and a team from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in Kotli Camp Village.

ByChetana Belagere

Published Dec 13, 2022 | 3:29 PMUpdatedDec 13, 2022 | 3:30 PM

An expert from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme briefing doctors and health department officials on the protocols to follow to contain the spread of the Zika virus. (supplied)

Karnataka is pulling out all stops to prevent a possible spread of the Zika virus in the state after a five-year-old girl tested positive for the virus on 8 December.

Officials of the Karnataka health department and a central government team are at Koli Camp village in Raichur’s Manvi taluk, surveilling the situation.

“A team from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is in the taluk to look into the surveillance methods and also create awareness on Zika infection,” Randeep D, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, told South First.

“Our officials are conducting door-to-door fever surveillance and collecting information on any kind of travel history and fever history of the people,” he added.

Focus on pregnant women

On Tuesday morning, the central team comprising three officials from the NVBDCP held a meeting with government hospital doctors in the district and state health department officials.

District Health Officers of Raichur and neighbouring districts also attended the meeting.

doctors attending zika virus meet

Doctors and health department officials attended a meeting convened by the central team from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (under the Union health ministry). (Supplied)

The team presented a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the surveillance protocols to be followed. The doctors were told to look for signs in patients with fever and dengue-like symptoms.

“We were informed that besides conducting door-to-door surveillance, doctors should ensure to record the travel or fever history of patients and their family members,” a health department official said after the meeting.

The fever history of pregnant women would be recorded and their antenatal scans would be scrutinised in detail,” the official added.

Doctors to monitor the growth of the foetus

The central team instructed the doctors to monitor the growth of foetuses in pregnant women, even though only one case of Zika virus disease has been reported. Zika infection during pregnancy could cause serious birth defects.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zika infection during pregnancy could cause serious brain and eye defects. Infection during pregnancy could lead to neurodevelopmental abnormalities such as problems with hearing, vision, joints with limited range of motion, seizures, swallowing abnormalities and even possible developmental delay in children.

“The team asked us to not only monitor the pregnant women’s fever status and collect blood samples if they have a fever, but also to monitor the development of the foetuses during antenatal and nuchal translucency scans conducted during the 18-20 weeks of pregnancy,” the doctor explained.

Meanwhile, an entomological team is collecting mosquitoes and larvae from Manvi and neighbouring taluks to test for the Zika virus.

Also Read: Puducherry scientists develop mosquitoes to control dengue spread

Index case’s relatives test negative

Zika

Health officials in Raichur. (Supplied)

Samples collected from the parents, relatives and friends of the five-year-old tested negative for Zika, Randeep said.

However, her school and other nearby areas are still being checked for fever history and random samples, too, are also being collected.

“Along with door-to-door fever surveillance, we are also collecting samples from the child’s contacts including school areas. All protocols are being followed. Any specific guidelines from the central team will be followed diligently by our officers. There is no reason to panic,” Randeep said.