Six Zika virus cases detected this month in Bengaluru

While the symptoms are very similar to viral fever, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao noted that the infections are not life threatening.

Bengaluru: Six cases of Zika virus were detected in Bengaluru this month, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Sunday. 

He said the virus was detected in four women and two men. While the symptoms are very similar to viral fever, he noted that the infections are not life threatening. 

“However, infections during pregnancy can lead to microcephaly,” he told DH. Microcephaly and other congenital malformations in the infants due to Zika infection are found to be rare, he noted. 

He confirmed that one woman diagnosed with the infection had a healthy baby while the other two are asymptomatic, as on Sunday evening.  The last case of Zika virus in Bengaluru was detected on August 14 at Jigani.

While the age-group which is prone to be infected with the virus is unknown, all the diagnosed cases in Bengaluru involve people aged above 30 years.  Last month, a 74-year-old man who tested positive for Zika virus died in Shivamogga. 

The symptoms of this mosquito-borne virus, transmitted by aedes aegypti, include rashes, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache, and usually last for two to seven days. 

Since the symptoms are similar to other viral fevers, experts advise laboratory confirmation for diagnosis.