Zika virus cases in Pune have reached 32 which also includes 11 pregnant women. Of these 11 women, six of them needed hospitalisation. The numbers have been increasing in the city and four new cases have been reported. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), on Saturday, sent 39 samples of suspected patients, which include samples of 38 pregnant women, to the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

All of the earlier cases of Zika virus were confirmed by the NIV. The PMC has also inspected over 35,000 homes, finding 819 to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The four new cases include a 26-year-old man from Erandwane, a 33-year-old woman from Wadgaon Budruk, a 76-year-old man from Prabhat Road, and a 70-year-old man from Tingrenagar.

Zika virus, also known as Zika fever is a mosquito-borne disease and is usually spread to people when an infected Aedes species mosquito bites them. The virus can also be transmitted from mother to foetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products and organ transplantation.

Symptoms of Zika Virus

A lot of people who are infected with the Zika virus do not have any symptoms or they’re likely to have mild symptoms. Here, take a look at some of the common symptoms of Zika virus.

These symptoms are very similar to those of other viral diseases that are spread through mosquito bites, like dengue and chikungunya. The symptoms of Zika virus can last for several days to a week. While most people have mild symptoms, the illness might get severe for some people, especially for pregnant women.

People who are infected with the Zika virus infection tend to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). This is a condition wherein the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves and this leads to muscle weakness and paralysis. People might take weeks to years to recover from the condition, however, some people might have long-lasting effects.

Babies of infected mothers have a high risk of microcephaly wherein the brain and head are significantly smaller than expected. These children often have developmental delays, intellectual disabilities and problems with movement and balance.

Infants who have CZS may also suffer from hearing loss and vision problems. This happens because the sensory impairments can affect their ability to learn, communicate and interact.

Children who are affected by the Zika virus can develop cognitive impairments and behavioural disorders which include attention deficit, hyperactivity and emotional regulation issues.

Certain studies show that Zika virus infection can impact male fertility by affecting sperm quality and count. This can have long-term implications for reproductive health, although more studies are needed to confirm these findings.