Monsoon season brings surge in Dengue and Zika cases in Karnataka, Maharashtra

With the arrival of monsoon in India, the cases of mosquito-borne diseases have seen a rise, with Bengaluru reporting over 1,000 cases of dengue while more than 5,000 cases of the disease have been reported from Maharashtra. Meanwhile, three cases of Zika have been reported in Pune.

As per the official data, the state has till now reported 5,300 cases of dengue from January, while 1000 cases have surfaced in last 20 days alone.

During the monsoon, increased levels of humidity create a breeding ground and a conducive environment for the growth of mosquitoes resulting in the rise in vector-borne diseases.

Vector-borne diseases refer to illnesses that are caused by pathogens transmitted to humans by vectors, which are living organisms such as mosquitoes that transmit the infectious agents during their feeding process.

In Pune, the first two cases of infection of Zika virus were reported by a doctor and his teen daughter, who tested positive for infection.

What is Zika?
Zika is a viral infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes, in particular by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species.

Zika fever usually presents mild symptoms and is cured without medical intervention. However, pregnant women should be cautious as the Zika virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact and blood transfusion.

The symptoms of Zika include fever, accompanied by rash, headache and joint pain. The patients can also have red eyes (conjunctivitis) and muscle pain. In cases of rare complications, the fetus can be born with Congenital Zika Syndrome or the patients can develop a rare nerve disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Preventive measures and treatment

There is no specific vaccine available to prevent Zika. Patients who show mild symptoms should get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and treat symptoms with antipyretics and/or analgesics.

In case the symptoms worsen, the patients should seek medical care and advice. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the Zika virus. Some precautionary measures that people must take are avoiding mosquito bites using repellent and wearing protective clothing.

Special care should be taken to clean places where there is accumulation of stagnant water. People should also implement safe sex practices, while pregnant women should avoid Zika-prone areas.