Chennai: Its status as an exploding pandemic notwithstanding, the Zika virus does not scare Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) officials as they believe they will be ready for it in case of an outbreak here. Zika, which has been spreading across the Americas, especially South American nations, is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also causes dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya.
Though deemed not fatal, the Zika virus has been linked with a large number of microcephaly cases registered in the affected countries.
Greater Chennai Corporation officials told DC that as there were no reported cases as yet in India, or in Chennai, there was no need for a knee-jerk reaction.
According to GCC estimates, the current mosquito density reported across Chennai is between 0.16 and 0.4 per cent. “Only if the breeding per cent is above should there be any reason for concern among the public. It points to the level and quality of fumigation activity that we have taken up,” a health official noted.
GCC officials insisted that mosquito density reduction has also resulted in lesser number of dengue cases reported in the city. “So far in 2016, we have had 22 cases of suspected dengue out of which six tested positive> Even these were treated and cured,” an official said.
But while Western media reports note that there is no vaccine cure for Zika, as little research had gone into studying the disease as it was considered rare 18 months ago, state health officials are convinced that it is merely a ploy of big pharmaceutical companies to create panic.
What is microcephaly?
Microcephaly is a serious birth defect caused due to below normal brain development resulting in the foetus to have a small head. Infants born with microcephaly will suffer from lifelong physical and developmental problems.
Zika’s role in causing microcephaly is still debated but evidence shows that the spurt in microcephaly cases to pregnant women affected by Zika is higher. The virus has also been said to cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, an auto-immune disorder that can cause paralysis.
Dangerous Aedes aegypti
The Aedes aegypti mosquito which breeds in warm, urban climate is responsible for causing dengue and chikungunya besides Zika.
According to the Greater Chennai Corporation, the city has reduced number of chikungunya and dengue cases recorded in the last five years. The corporation’s health department stated that only 916 cases of dengue positive was recorded between 2012 and 2015 down from 1,634 between 2006 and 2011.
