BENGALURU, Dec 14: A 5-year old girl has been diagnosed with zika virus infection in Karnataka's Raichur district. This is the first zika case in the State. Earlier this year the viral infection was reported from Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

The case came to light when the serum sample was tested for dengue and chikungunya. According to TOI, an elderly person was found infected with zika in Pune a few days ago. Hailing from Nashik, he had earlier travelled to Surat before coming to Pune where he was found infected.

Health Minister K Sudhakar hd said, "We have got a lab report from Pune about the confirmed case of Zika virus." On December 5 it was processed and reported on December 8.

A blood test can detect zika virus infection. It is spread by aedes mosquitoes like dengue and chikungunya. Symptoms of zika infection are fever, joint pain, rashes. it can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites.