Pune: Maharashtra has recorded 140 cases of Zika virus infections as of November 28, with Pune reporting the highest count at 109. Nearly half of these cases involve pregnant women.

The state’s Public Health Department has ramped up preventive measures, focusing on fever surveillance and mosquito control.

The first case of Zika in Maharashtra this year was reported in Pune, and the city has since emerged as the epicenter, recording the majority of cases.

Other affected areas include Ahilyanagar (Sangamner) with 11 cases, Pune Rural with 10 cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad with 6 cases, and one case each in Sangli, Miraj, Kolhapur, Solapur, and Dadar (Mumbai North).

Tragically, five Zika-related deaths were reported earlier in Pune. However, the Health Department’s death review committee confirmed that these fatalities, all involving elderly patients, were primarily due to underlying health conditions and not directly caused by Zika.

The state has conducted tests on 2,068 suspected Zika cases at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), with 140 testing positive.

Health authorities are conducting fever surveys within a 3-5 kilometer radius of affected areas and are implementing measures such as insecticide spraying to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito population.

Key Health Department Initiatives:

• Conducting fever surveys in areas with reported Zika cases.

• Prioritizing medical screenings for pregnant women.

• Treating fever patients based on symptoms.

• Educating pregnant women about Zika risks.

• Emphasizing mosquito control measures.

• Instructing private doctors to report suspected Zika cases.

Health officials have advised citizens to remain calm and seek timely medical attention in case of fever. Zika infections rarely require hospitalization, and the fatality rate is negligible.