Pune: The sudden emergence of seven Zika virus cases in the city has raised concerns among prominent people. virologistHe fears there are “serious gaps” in the country’s ability to detect and trace the mosquito-borne disease.

Experts who spoke to the Times of India have warned that the virus is “spreading silently” across the country, and only a few laboratories are equipped to confirm it. Infections,India”India’s limited testing capacity for Zika is a major concern,” said Dr Vinod Scaria, the virologist who discovered the delta variant of Covid-19.

“Only a few select laboratories, which National Institute of Virology (NIV) In Pune, Zika can be screened Clinical TrialsThere is no diagnosis approved by CDSCO for widespread use by other laboratories to identify Zika. This means we are probably recording only a fraction of the actual cases. Coupled with a lack of widespread testing Supervision “This is particularly worrying given the risk that Zika poses to pregnant women,” he said.

Expert: Until diagnostic tests are strengthened, infection may go undiagnosed

To rapidly develop diagnostics and make them widely accessible, “whole genome sequences obtained from outbreaks need to be made available in public databases quickly,” Dr. Scaria said.

Dr Rajalakshmi A, infectious disease specialist at Thiruvananthapuram-based KIMSHEALTH and co-investigator in Kerala’s first Zika outbreak in 2021, said, “Active surveillance is essential to understand the prevalence and pattern of ZVD (Zika virus disease). In Indian outbreaks, we have limited information about ZVD in pregnancy. No increase in microcephaly was seen in previous Indian outbreaks. There is a lack of surveillance for ZVD in pregnant women and fetal abnormalities and congenital abnormalities in newborns in India.”

“If the ICMR has detected Zika-positive Aedes mosquitoes, what has it done to look for transmission to humans? A syndromic surveillance plan needs to be put in place, use available PCR tests when needed and alert hospitals in vulnerable areas. Work on developing tests should be initiated, but it won’t help this season,” said senior virologist Shahid Jameel.

Experts said that due to diagnostic differences and similarities between Zika and dengue symptomsThis means many cases may go undetected. He believes the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) had earlier confirmed that there is currently no approved Zika test available for widespread use in India. This diagnostic gap is complicated by dengue and chikungunya being endemic in India, which are the other major vector-borne viral diseases transmitted by the virus. Aedes MosquitoThe same vector that spreads Zika. Also, these vector-borne viral diseases share some symptoms. Until diagnostic tests are strengthened, many ZVDs may go undiagnosed.

Dr. Rajalakshmi said many cases of ZVD are probably missed due to mild symptoms and limited PCR testing and availability.

When a patient comes with fever, joint pain, itchy rash and red eyes, both physicians and patients should be alerted to the possibility of Zika, as these symptoms may be dismissed as other viral fevers or allergies. “Regular surveillance will help us understand seasonal patterns, assess the actual disease burden and guide public health measures such as vector control,” Dr. Rajalakshmi said.

A senior official of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said there was no question of inadequate surveillance for Zika virus. “We have a dedicated National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control Programme Division. It oversees mosquito control measures.”

When asked about the limited availability of Zika tests, the official acknowledged, “Yes, it is an issue. Currently, Zika testing is mainly done in select laboratories.”