The first case was of a pregnant woman in Thiruvananthapuram, who is recovering. Most of the 14 cases identified till Friday belong to the district. The Central Government has despatched a medical team to monitor the situation. Zika, a mosquito-borne flavivirus (RNA), is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti, which also spreads dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. The symptoms are like of dengue and other arbovirus infections.

NEW DELHI, July 10: Fourteen cases of zika virus infection have been confirmed in Kerala till Friday. The State has been put on alert. The first case of these was of a pregnant woman (24) in Thiruvananthapuram, who delivered of her baby on July 7. The patient is reportedly recovering and the baby is normal. Most of the cases were from the district.

The Centre has despatched a six-member medical team to investigate the zika incidence and monitor the situation there. "There are some Zika cases which have been reported from Kerala. To monitor the situation and to support the state government, a six-member team comprising public health experts, vector-borne disease experts and clinicians from AIIMS has already been issued instructions to reach there and support the state government in terms of management of Zika there," Joint Secretary in the Ministry Lav Agarwal told reporters on Friday.

Zika, a mosquito-borne flavivirus (RNA), mostly spreads through the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and shows symptoms of dengue. Aedes mosquito also spreads dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Zika is generally non-fatal but causes deformities in fetus when pregnant women are infected.

One gets the infection when a mosquito, after biting an infected person, bites him. Earlier it was prevalent only in Africa. Through human fluid like blood also the infection can take place, according to US CDC.

Zika, like other arbovirus infections, causes symptoms like fever, rash, joint pain and redness in the eye which appear in 3 to 14 days of a mosquito bite and last a week. However, only 1 in 5 people exhibit symptoms but all of them, like in covid, can transmit. If ever one visited an area where zika prevails, or have symptoms, one must go for a test, especially pregnant women because it will lead to congenital zika syndromes in babies (microcephaly). In some developed countries, prenatal investigation also covers zika testing. Of course, once infected, the victim develops immunity.

The infection runs for a week. There is no specific medicine or vaccine except symptomatic treatment. Aspirin should not be taken unless it is confirmed that the case is not dengue as it can dangerously aggravate bleeding in dengue patients. Take plenty of fluids. Rest is essential.

If one happens to be in areas suspected of zika prevalence, have mosquito repellent and wear full sleeved shirt and full trousers during day time. Sunscreen is useful only as a primary.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government's health department has intensified surveillance through Asha workes and health assistanrts at the border districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chamarajanagar as “the current monsoon season supports the widespread proliferation of the Aedes mosquito, which is a vector for the Zika virus.”