By Ila Ananya
Did you know that three cases of Zika were confirmed in Ahmedabad in January and February this year?
If you didn’t, it’s because the Indian government kept silent about the cases for nearly six months after they were detected. On Thursday, 1st June, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare put out a press release about the virus in India, claiming that since the World Health Organisation (WHO) had withdrawn its notification about it being a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern,’ they handled the cases according to existing protocol. This only came after WHO made public a note about the cases on 26th May.
As though it was doing a general, earnest public service, the government also went on to claim they’d done this in order to “avoid panic”.
But Menaka Rao, writing for Scroll.in, of course, has found that even existing protocol wasn’t followed, as the press release claimed. According to guidelines, the press was supposed to be informed immediately, followed by regular briefings, none of which were done. There also needed to be a more intense fever surveillance around the affected area, with health authorities going to schools and workplaces and homes to make people aware of Zika, which wasn’t done, since local authorities hadn’t known about the cases in the first place. Bednets, which Rao said were supposed to be given were provided, but claimed to be for a malaria control programme.
For now, the United Kingdom has classified India as having a “moderate risk” of Zika virus transmission, advising pregnant women to avoid travelling here. Everyone in India itself should have known what’s happening sooner too.
June 4, 2017 at 12:39 am
RE: “The Zika virus, carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito”
Fact: Culex are also Zika vectors in southeast Asia.
Sept. 7, 2016: “These laboratory results clearly demonstrate the potential role of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus as a vector of ZIKV in China. Because there are quite different vector management strategies required to control Aedes (Stegomyia) species and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, an integrated approach may be required should a Zika epidemic occur.”
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27599470?dopt=Abstract
RE: “three patients had not travelled overseas and had acquired the infection locally.”
False: “Zika is transmitted by the daytime-active Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.”
Fact: Zika is also transmitted by the nighttime-active Culex in southeast Asia but I was the only media to notice it. Source: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/gyKaPQCTnTo
Re: “The WHO said there was significant risk of the further spread of the virus and recommended that governments push ahead with efforts to control mosquitoes.”
Fact: Eradication methods in India ONLY include Aedes and not Culex (that bite throughout the night) and transmit the disease to birds (esp. bulbuls, a popular pet bird in southeast Asia).
What is missing: bed nets at night should be used by everyone in southeast Asia, level 3 travel restrictions should be issued, and blood donors should NOT donate blood.
Re: “However, the agency did not recommend any curbs on travel to India.”
Most likely co-factor: Wolbachia. When Culex naturally acquire Wolbachia they are better vectors of West Nile virus and malaria. Wolbachia-infected mosquito releases were carried out in India.
Zika is supported 99 percent within the clade alongside West Nile virus. But here is what happened when I added these studies to Wikipedia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ZuG12yM0E&t