15-year-old Kurla girl Mumbai’s 2nd Zika case; has no travel history | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The city has recorded a second case of Zika virus in a 15-year-old girl from Kurla, the BMC confirmed on Tuesday. The previous one was reported on August 23, and involved a 79-year-old Chembur resident.
With two cases emerging in just over 15 days, and no travel history in either instance, the BMC plans to intensify surveillance by conducting random sampling in all wards. The corporation said they have intensified mosquito-control measures as Zika virus is transmitted primarily by aedes mosquitoes, which also spreads dengue and chikungunya. With this case, the count of lab-confirmed Zika virus in the state has reached five.
The 15-year-old girl from Kurla (L ward), who has other comorbidities, complained of symptoms like fever and headache since August 20. She initially sought treatment at a private hospital, where a PCR test revealed she was infected with Zika virus, said Dr Daksha Shah, BMC’s executive health officer. The girl was shifted to Kasturba Hospital on Tuesday, and placed under quarantine. The doctors said her condition was stable.
Dr Shah said the purpose of random sampling is to uncover any potential undetected cases within the community and to understand the extent of spread. “In both cases, there was no travel history. Also, none of their close contacts were found to have the infection or any symptoms,” she said. The samples collected during surveillance will be tested at KEM Hospital, Parel. BMC teams have carried out surveys around the 15-year-old girl’s house but didn’t find any cases, even suspected ones, in the vicinity. However, the civic body has urged citizens not to panic and remain vigilant.
“Zika infection is a self-limiting disease. Around 80% of those infected with the virus are asymptomatic. Those with comorbidities are likely to develop severe infections that may require hospitalisation,” said BMC. Infection during pregnancy, however, can cause certain birth defects in the child. Fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache are some of the common symptoms.
There is also no vaccine or medicine for Zika at the moment. About the first case, the BMC confirmed that the 79-year-old Chembur man has completely recovered.