Amidst the Covid-19 crises in the state, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has informed that it has reported at least 13 Zika virus cases. Of the 13 samples sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for testing, all of them are said to be positive, news agency IANS quoted George as saying.

Transmitted via mosquito bites, the Zika virus can cause paralysis in extreme cases. A pregnant woman, aged 24, has been diagnosed with the Zika virus in the state. During pregnancy, the Zika virus may cause birth defects such as microcephaly.

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“This is the first time that Zika virus has been reported in Kerala. A 24-year-old pregnant woman reported at a hospital in the state capital district with fever, headache, and rashes last month. The first results showed a mild positive sign of Zika virus and later from 19 samples tested, 13 also showed Zika positive. All the samples have now been sent to NIV Pune,” IANS quoted the Kerala Health Minister as saying. “The Health Department and the district authorities are aware of the issue and have taken measures by collecting samples of the Aedes species mosquitoes, which transmits it to people through its bite.”

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