Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Beware of Zika' that was published in Newsband

Beware of Zika

The World Health Organization is waging a war against the outbreak of Zika and congenital malformations and neurological disorders in new-borns believed to be connected to the virus. It’s a global problem. There could be some relationship between Zika virus and microcephaly. It is strongly suspected that the virus is found in the placenta and amniotic fluid of infected mothers and in the brains of foetuses and newborns. As in the case of Ebola, no specific treatment or vaccine is currently available for the Zika virus; there are no rapid and reliable diagnostic tests either.

WHO’s has asked all the countries to improve surveillance, detect infections and study the causal link between Zika infection and microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. The virus is normally spread by the Aedes mosquito. The WHO has urged all countries where dengue is endemic to be on high alert and look out for cases of Zika.

The current natural immunity against the virus in the Indian population is not known. And since the Aedes, the vector for both the dengue and Zika viruses, is widespread in India, aggressive mosquito control measures are needed. India’s poor mosquito control measures are highlighted every dengue season

Besides the Delhi-based National Centre for Disease Control and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology, which are equipped to confirm Zika diagnoses, 10 regional laboratories could assist in testing. The Union Health Ministry has advised pregnant women to “defer/cancel” travel plans to Zika-affected countries.

Simple solution of every problem is to get rid of the root cause of that problem. So the main focus should be on how to stop the growth of mosquito. It is time the mosquitoes are eradicated. Insecticides may be dropped in pellets from the sky via helicopters to cover large areas while people are asked to stay indoors. This must be done in sessions. Eradicate the mosquito and eradicate the disease. Mosquito repellents don't work.

Prevalence of Zika virus in other developing countries is a cause of concern for India too as trade and commerce related travels and tourists travel might import the virus. Likewise bad sanitaton conditions and felling of trees, especially in cities, contribute to the breeding of mosquitoes thereby increasing the chances of spread of Zika alongwith other diseases already prevalent as a menace and affecting scores of rural poor.

Government should spread awareness among public about necessary precautions and preventive measures to be taken based on recent medical findings and study of Zika pandemonium as a proactive measure to make sure that India should not be too adversely affected and be ready to prevent the effect of Zika outbreak.