Back from Rio, athlete treated in isolation at B'luru; doctors fear Zika

Bengaluru: Olympics runner Sudha Singh, who had participated in the steeplechase competition at Rio, is currently being treated in isolation at a Bengaluru hospital as doctors suspect she may have contracted the Zika virus.

According to reports, 30-year-old Singh, who was back in India on Saturday, had complained of fatigue and joint pain and her blood level had fallen to worrying levels. While she is being treated for viral infection, doctors are also carrying out a medical investigation to rule out a possible Zika scare.

"Sudha Singh arrived here in Bengaluru on August 20 with fever and body ache. She was admitted to one of the chains of Fortis Hospital the same day. The athlete is undergoing treatment and medication for suspected zika virus," Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Director M Shyam Sunder said.

Giving an update on the condition of the athlete, Sunder said officials from health departments of state and central governments visited the hospital and gave the required medical help and advise.

Read: Sudha Singh smashes steeplechase national record

Sudha Singh had created a national record in women’s 3000m steeplechase in May at the IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai. Her record-breaking performance had come at a right time and served as a huge morale booster before she left for the Rio games.

The hospital where Sudha is being treated, has sent her blood samples to a virology institute, to check for Zika. Doctors are taking extra precaution as Brazil has had suffered a major outbreak of the Zika virus. Brazil has the highest rate of infection, followed by Colombia.

The Zika virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. There is no vaccine for Zika.

Leading tennis players, the world's top four golfers never made it to Rio, fearing the health consequences of the mosquito-borne disease.