Three more cases of Zika virus was found in Kerala. reportedwhich brings the total number of cases to 18. A toddler was among the three newly infected cases.
Kerala Minister of Health Veena George said in a press release: “A 22 month old toddler was found infected. A 46-year-old man and a 29-year-old health worker were also found infected. We have 18 confirmed cases of infection in the state. “
Veena George added that the state government has set up testing facilities at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode medical colleges and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Alappuzha.
The health minister said 27 samples were sent in two batches for testing. Of these, 26 were negative. Of the third batch of eight samples, three were found infected on Sunday.
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According to the state health ministry, 2,100 test kits were received from NIV Pune. Of these, 1,000 went to Thiruvananthapuram, 500 to NIV in Alappuzha and 300 each to Thrissur and Kozhikode.
The Minister of Health said, “The Thiruvananthapuram Medical College has received 500 triplex kits that allow simultaneous detection and differentiation of RNA from dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, and 500 singleplex kits that allow Zika virus alone can be proven. “
Pune NIV has asked the state health department to collect blood samples from people suspected of being infected with the Zika virus.
“Additional laboratories in the state are being equipped with testing facilities for the Zika virus. We have 27 state labs in the state that can run RT-PCR tests, and as more test kits reach the state, we will use those labs to do tests for Zika virus after the NIV gets permission, “said Veena George .
Hospitals across the state have been instructed to test patients, especially pregnant women, with symptoms such as fever, rashes and body pain, the health minister said.
ZIKA VIRUS FALLS IN KERALA
Kerala has been on high alert after cases of the Zika virus, including a 24 year old pregnant woman who were first diagnosed were reported in the state.
The center dispatched a six-person team on Friday to monitor the situation and support the state government. Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said: “A few Zika cases have been reported from Kerala. To monitor the situation and assist the state government, a six-person team of public health experts, vector-borne disease experts and clinicians from AIIMS already “received instructions to get there and assist the state government in managing Zika there.”
Veena George said on Saturday that the The government of Kerala has strengthened surveillance mechanismsincluding vector control to contain the spread of Zika virus.
(With entries from PTI)
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