UP: 6 More Zika Virus Cases Recorded, Positive Tally Goes Up To 10

According to a recent report, Kanpur reported 6 more Zika virus cases, taking the positive tally in Uttar Pradesh to 10.

The patients, all civilians, tested positive for Zika virus on Sunday in the Chakeri area of Kanpur and the affected area houses an Indian Air Force (IAF) station, stated the media report.

The report said that out of the 6 patients, 4 are women, including one in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

It has been reported that 3 Indian Air Force personnel, including the 57-year-old warrant officer, who first tested positive for the infection on October 23, are being treated at the Air Force Hospital in Kanpur.

The Zika virus was confirmed in the KGMU lab, Lucknow on Sunday in samples of a 20-year-old girl of Kazi Khera Lal Bangla, a 21-year-old girl of Lalkurti Cantonment, a 28-year-old woman from the area, and a 44-year-old woman of Poonam Talkies Lal Bangla.

Two men, including a 36-year-old man from Chakeri Road Ompurwa and a 53-year-old man from Kalibari Harjinder Nagar Lal Bangla, also tested positive for the Zika virus.

The District Magistrate of Kanpur Nagar, Vishak G Iyer visited Chakeri with a team of health and civic officials on
Sunday.

Iyer said, "The 8-month pregnant woman, who tested positive has been isolated and is being monitored round-the-clock. More than 400 houses have been turned into containment areas in Chakeri."

The medical teams collected samples from 612 people, including 283 IAF personnel, 35 pregnant women in their families, 106 pregnant women in civilian pockets of Chakeri, and other people displaying symptoms on Sunday.

These samples have been sent to the KGMU lab in Lucknow and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

The report quoted chief medical officer, Dr. Nepal Singh, as saying: "Anti-larvae spraying is being done in the affected areas of Chakeri. All patients are asymptomatic. Their families have also been advised to remain indoors till lab reports come."