First Zika case detected in TN; patient safe

“The patient had developed fever, redness of the eyes, headache, photophobia, pain behind his eyes, myalgia and weakness on June 26. Due to the continuation of his discomfort, he visited the Anchetty PHC as an outpatient on June 28, and was administered paracetamol and other supportive measures,” said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan. 

Vector control and other measures, including medication, were undertaken and rapid response teams were deployed, he added. As the discomfort continued, the patient visited the PHC again the following day and gave blood, urine and sputum samples which were then sent to the Manipal Centre for Virus Research, Manipal, Karnataka. 

“All routine investigations like dengue, chikungunya, leptospirosis, scrub typhus, influenza A and B virus, enterovirus, and malaria were Negative by serological and molecular methods,” said a health official, adding that the blood culture was also found to be negative. 

Following further investigations of the blood and urine samples, it was found that he was positive for Zika virus at Manipal Institute. A second blood and urine sample were collected. The blood sample tested negative for Zika virus but the urine sample tested positive. 

“A conventional PCR for Zika virus was done and sequenced and a 98 per cent sequence similarity with Zika virus Asian lineage was found. On July 3, the patient was confirmed to have recovered,” added the official. It is said that a repeat sample from the patient and three other samples from other fever cases in the area were collected and sent to Kings Institute, while samples were also sent to NIV, Pune for further confirmation. They were all tested negative. 

“Along with the Director for Public Health and District Collector of Krishnagiri district, I visited the village and reviewed the public health measures. The situation is under control,” added Radhakrishnan.