2 IAF officials test positive for Zika virus in Kanpur

So far, four persons have been infected with Zika virus in Kanpur of which, three are IAF personnel and one is a civilian.

By: PTI

Kanpur | Updated: October 30, 2021 10:35 PM IST

2 min read

Kanpur reported its first ever Zika virus case on October 23 when an IAF warrant officer was tested positive for Zika virus. (Representational/File)

Three more people, including two Indian Air Force personnel, on Saturday tested positive for the Zika virus in Kanpur, officials said.

“With three fresh cases of Zika virus infected persons, the tally reached four. All the three fresh cases are males, of which two are IAF personnel, and one is a civilian. Kanpur reported its first ever Zika virus case on October 23 when an IAF warrant officer was tested positive for Zika virus,” Chief Medical Officer of Kanpur, Dr Nepal Singh said.

Soon after diagnosing an IAF personnel with Zika virus, the health health officials collected samples of 22 people who were in close contact with the infected person, for testing and all samples were tested negative for Zika.

Elaborating further, the CMO said 465 samples, including that of a pregnant woman and those suffering from fever, were collected over two consecutive days on Thursday and Friday that was sent to KGMU Lucknow lab for testing. Of this, 3 samples came out positive for Zika virus, he added.

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Those tested positive were in the age group of 30 to 41 years and a couple of them were asymptomatic and residing in the vicinity of IAF station hangars.

The IAF personnel diagnosed with Zika virus positive were admitted to the Air Force Hospital.

To check the spread of the disease and track the source of Zika virus, health teams were pressed to undertake sanitisation programmes including anti-larvae spraying, identification of fever patients, screening of seriously-ill people and pregnant women in a bid to curb further spread of the disease.