Another pregnant woman detected with Zika, 6th case in Pune

On Sunday, the health department had reported that a 28-year-old pregnant woman from Erandwane was detected with Zika. The woman is six months pregnant and shows no symptoms, Dr Rajesh Dighe, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Pune Municipal Corporation said.

Zika infection in a pregnant women, according to US based Centre for Disease Control, can cause microcephaly and birth defects involving the baby’s brain. Due to these significant risks, the PMC health department has also intensified surveillance in Erandwane and Mundhwa areas where the other Zika virus infection cases were reported.

After two cases were earlier reported from Mundhwa, the health department has also asked for collection of more samples from Kodrevasti . There is no reason to panic as containment measures are being taken, health officials said.

Dr Dighe also said that they were monitoring both pregnant women.

Dr Dighe said preventive measures were taken once the case was reported. “We have found that overhead water tanks were not properly covered in the Ganeshnagar settlement. We have also levied fines as we identified mosquito breeding spots in this area,” Dr Dighe said.

Close to 10,000 people have been surveyed and teams have visited 4,646 homes in both areas, Erandwane and Mundhwa. Mosquito breeding spots were identifed in 161 houses and fines to the tune of Rs 3,300 have been levied