Even after identifying four Zika virus cases in the city and two in the state – one each in Kolhapur and Ahmednagar districts – the state vector-borne disease department has failed to identify patient zero or the index case and conduct contact tracing.
The department, preoccupied with recording cases, has neglected its responsibility to trace the origin of the first case.
If that is so, why have they not announced Zika as a notifiable disease yet?
“We are doing our bit and are now busy conducting inspections, increasing awareness activities, surveying containers, and looking for mosquito breeding sites.
We have even sent around 16 samples from Mundhwa after finding out about the positive case admitted to Noble Hospital.
Even after identifying four Zika virus cases in the city and two in the state – one each in Kolhapur and Ahmednagar districts – the state vector-borne disease department has failed to identify patient zero or the index case and conduct contact tracing. The department, preoccupied with recording cases, has neglected its responsibility to trace the origin of the first case.
However, when asked about this, Dr Mahendra Jagtap, the head of the vector-borne disease department, said, “It is the responsibility of the local health departments of the city corporations.”
Dr Jagtap not only failed to comment on the patient zero of Zika virus but also made a false promise to call back.
Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant medical officer of health, PMC, was questioned about the allegations and the failure of the civic body to trace the origin and check the travel history of the patient, and to convince the doctor's (the positive case from Erandwane) family to send their samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), he said, “These days it is too difficult to trace the travel history of the positive cases. Also, the state cannot blame us for such reasons. If that is so, why have they not announced Zika as a notifiable disease yet?
“We are doing our bit and are now busy conducting inspections, increasing awareness activities, surveying containers, and looking for mosquito breeding sites. We have even sent around 16 samples from Mundhwa after finding out about the positive case admitted to Noble Hospital.
“We are focusing mainly on vector control activity as it is a mosquito-borne infection. Plus, dengue is more life-threatening than Zika; hence, prevention is the most effective way and that is to contain the mosquito-breeding areas and hotspots in Pune city.”
When asked about the importance of index case and tracing the origin and checking travel history in such diseases, Dr Pradeep Awate, who has handled two major epidemics in the state, swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) and the COVID-19 pandemic, and previously headed the infectious disease surveillance department, stressed that it is of utmost importance to identify patient zero or the index case if one wants to contain the virus and trace its origin.
“Knowing all this helps in containing the virus and preventing its further spread. Also, we need to understand what strain it is. The study of the strain makes prevention easier,” said Dr. Awate.
