In view of alert declared due to Zika virus, the East Singhbhum district civil surgeon’s office has started taking preventive measures. The office on Friday constituted a rapid response team. The National Centre for Disease Control, which functions under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, issued a circular asking the health department authorities to be alert about the virus, which spreads through Aedes Aegypti type mosquito. Such mosquitoes are active during daytime.
District civil surgeon SK Jha said that they have alerted all hospitals, primary health centres and other healthcare units. The members of the rapid response team comprising trained health department staff would spread awareness among people about preventing the disease. They would also collect samples from suspected patients.
According to Jha, although there has been no case of Zika virus in India reported so far. He said that the virus spread by Aedes Aegypti type mosquitoes, that also carry dengue and chikungunya viruses. “ We have decided to take steps to prevent breeding of such mosquitoes. The mosquito that carries Zika Virus- Aedes Aegypti- breeds in fresh water. We will also issue an appeal asking people not to let water collect in bird baths, planters, non-used bottles, containers, discarded waste, tyres etc. Unclean air coolers at homes, clogged drains and fodder buckets in mushrooming cattle sheds also promote breeding of such mosquitoes,” explained the civil surgeon.
Another official said that the Zika virus has the potential to spread wherever the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, that transmits the infection, is found and where people lack natural immunity against it. As in the case of Ebola, no specific treatment or vaccine is currently available for the Zika virus, there are no rapid and reliable diagnostic tests either.