Zika spreads to other dists, one case in Kannauj

Kanpur: The Zika virus infection is now spreading to other districts. After Kanpur, now a patient in Kannauj has been confirmed as Zika virus positive. The number of Zika cases have reached 90 across the state. Till Monday, 89 cases were reported from Kanpur. Instructions have been issued to all the districts of Kanpur division to take more samples of patients suffering with fever or are having symptoms of Zika.
All community health centres (CHCs) and district hospitals have been directed to intensify collection of samples to test for Zika while fever patients have been asked to use mosquito nets.The sample of a man living in Kapurapur Katri tehsil of Kannauj was confirmed with Zika virus.
After an alert was sounded in the neighbouring districts of Kanpur, fever patients in Kannauj district are being continuously investigated.
A few days ago, about 30 samples were sent to KGMU lab in Lucknow from Kannauj for examination.
Chief medical officer Kannauj Dr Vinod Kumar told reporters that a few days ago, 30 samples of patients suffering from fever had been sent to KGMU lab in Lucknow, and out of them, Zika infection was found in the urine of a 45-year-old man on Saturday who is stable and healthy. He had gone to the Shivrajpur area of Kanpur a few days ago. "When he returned from there, he complained of cough, fever and cold. Even after several days, he did not recover, after which his samples were sent for examination in which Zika virus was found in his urine. At present, he has been kept under strict supervision," the CMO further said.
Meanwhile, panic prevailed in the village from where the first case of Zika was reported. Villagers have started maintaining distance from the family, the sources informed.
The teams of the health department are spreading awareness in the village that Zika virus does not spread by touching, and it only spreads due to mosquito bite," said an official of the health department.
“Ever since our family member tested positive, the people of the village have started maintaining distance”, said the family members of the victim.