Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): A 73-year-old woman tested positive for Zika virus in Kerala on Monday, taking the total number of infections in the state to 19. Health Minister Veena George said the virus was detected in a sample sent to a Coimbatore-based laboratory by a private hospital where the woman was being treated. At the same time, five samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) unit at Alappuzha tested negative for the virus, she said in a release.
On Sunday, three people, including a toddler, were found infected with Zika, following which the government arranged 2,100 test kits for testing facilities at four medical colleges in the state. The testing facilities have been arranged at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode Medical colleges and at NIV, Alappuzha. The Minister on Sunday had said that hospitals had been instructed to test those patients, especially pregnant women, with fever, rashes and body pain.
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With this, the virus has been confirmed on 19 people in the state. Meantime, five more samples sent to NIV in Alappuzha have tested negative. On Sunday, three people including a toddler were found infected with Zika. The only way to prevent the spread of the disease is to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. The health department also suggested that pregnant women should be protected from mosquito bites. Zika virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact. Strong preventive measures will be taken focusing on areas and hospitals where the disease is likely to be reported. An alert has been issued across the state.
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