For infection with the Zika virus, there is no specific antiviral therapy. For people who are experiencing symptoms, supportive care is often advised, such as rest, hydration, and painkillers. To identify any birth problems in the unborn child, pregnant women who may have been exposed to Zika are constantly watched.
Mumbai has reported the first case of Zika Virus, confirmed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The identified patient is a 79-year-old resident of M-West ward that covers areas around Chembur. The patient began experiencing symptoms, including fever, a stuffy nose and cough from July 19. The patient has now recovered and was discharged on August 2. On contact tracing, no other positive patient has been identified.
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that was initially discovered in Uganda’s Zika Forest in 1947. While it remained mostly unnoticed for many years, a huge epidemic in the Americas, particularly in Brazil, in 2015 brought it to the attention of the world. An increase in newborns with microcephaly, a fatal birth defect where infants are born with unusually small heads and underdeveloped brains, was linked to this outbreak. Here is some information on the Zika virus.
