Synopsis
India has reported 151 cases of Zika virus disease in 2024, with Maharashtra leading in numbers, according to the WHO. The report highlights significant concerns regarding the disease's impact, particularly during pregnancy, while no severe complications have been recorded in the latest outbreak.Key Takeaways
- 151 Zika virus cases reported in India in 2024.
- Maharashtra had the highest cases with 140.
- Karnataka and Gujarat followed with 10 and 1 case respectively.
- No microcephaly or GBS cases reported during this outbreak.
- Infection remains a concern for pregnant women.
New Delhi, Jan 30 (NationPress) India has documented a total of 151 cases of Zika virus disease (ZVD) from January 1 to December 31, 2024, as per the most recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The infections have emerged from three states: Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Among these, Maharashtra has recorded the highest number with 140 ZVD cases, followed by Karnataka with 10 and Gujarat with 1, the WHO noted, referencing data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) under the Ministry of Health.
Of the 140 cases reported in Maharashtra, the majority, 125 cases, were from the Pune district, while 11 were from Ahmednagar district. Additional cases include one each from Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, and the Mumbai suburban area.
Karnataka reported seven cases from Bengaluru urban district and three from Shivamogga district. In Gujarat, there was one reported Zika case in Gandhinagar Corporation during 2024.
Zika is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, similar to Dengue and Chikungunya. Although it is generally non-fatal, infection during pregnancy can lead to severe consequences for the developing fetus.
The Zika virus is transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, with initial symptoms often being mild, such as fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
One of the most concerning outcomes is microcephaly, a condition where newborns are delivered with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.
Despite this, the WHO update stated that “no cases of microcephaly or Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) related to this outbreak have been reported” in the past year.
It is noteworthy that these reported cases represent the highest numbers in both Maharashtra and Karnataka since 2021.
According to the WHO, “the number of ZVD cases reported in Maharashtra in 2024 is the highest since 2021, in contrast to the one, three, and 18 Zika virus disease cases documented in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively.” Cases in Karnataka have also surged to the highest levels since they first appeared in 2022.
Meanwhile, the WHO highlighted that “the exact number of ZIKV infections among pregnant women remains unknown,” as the IDSP unit does not routinely separate ZVD cases by pregnancy status.
