Zika virus cases surge in Kanpur

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There has been a surge in Zika virus cases in Kanpur with at least 89 people, including 17 children, having tested positive, the health department said on Monday.</p>
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"There has been a surge in cases of the Zika virus and the health department has formed several teams to contain the spread," Dr Nepal Singh, chief medical officer of Kanpur district.</p>
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"There is one woman who is pregnant and we are paying special attention towards her," he added.</p>
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The first Zika case in Kanpur was detected on Oct. 23 and the number of cases has increased over the past week.</p>
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Union Health Ministry had rushed a high level multi-disciplinary medical team to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh where a case of Zika Virus Disease has been reported. A 57-year-old a warrant officer in the Indian Air Force was diagnosed with the disease.</p>
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<strong>What is Zika virus disease?</strong></p>
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Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day.</li>
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Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Symptoms typically last for 2–7 days.</li>
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Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations.</li>
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An increased risk of neurologic complications is also associated with Zika virus.</li>
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Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It was later identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania.</p>