1st Case of Zika Reported from Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu man has tested positive for Zika virus.

The Zika virus spreads through mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also responsible for dengue and chikungunya. (Photo: AP)

(Photo: AP)

A 27-year-old from Krishnagiri District in Tamil Nadu has tested positive for Zika virus. The news was confirmed by State Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan according to reports.

Approximately, 200 suspected cases of the virus were tested at King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research, Chennai, and this is the first one that has tested positive.

The patient is believed to have recovered and is doing well.

The patient had developed fever, headache, redness of the eyes and weakness. All routine investigations for Dengue, Chikungunya and Leptospirosis tested negative. The case was diagnosed on 1 July.

Samples from three other fever cases in the area tested negative.  This is the first case of Zika reported in Tamil Nadu.

In May, a few positive cases were reported from Gujarat. Over 40,000 tests for Zika have been done in India so far.

The vector that carries Zika and other arboviruses, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is also responsible for the transmission of dengue and chikungunya and is poorly controlled in urban areas in India.

In May, the failure of the Gujarat government to notify the World Health Organisation on time regarding positive cases had invited a lot of criticism from the health community.