Zika virus detected near Bengaluru.
The Karnataka health department has heightened its vigilance after the detection of the Zika virus near Bengaluru. Mosquitoes were screened for the virus at 68 different locations in the state, with the virus being identified in a mosquito from Chikkaballapur district. Samples were taken from six areas and sent for examination in August, with results received on October 25. An alert has been issued within a 5-kilometer radius of Talkaebetta, the source of the positive sample.
In response to this development, special meetings have been convened by health authorities, and officers have been given clear directives to manage the situation in its early stages. As a precaution, blood samples from 30 pregnant women and seven individuals exhibiting fever symptoms have been collected and sent for testing in Bengaluru. These samples were obtained from villages within a five-kilometer radius of Talakayala Betta village, and health authorities are closely monitoring approximately 5,000 people in the region.
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne infection characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain. It is known to cause birth defects.
