Zika leaves Krishnagiri villagers on tenterhooks

Krishnagiri: M. Mayarudran of Natramapalayam Pudur in the Denkannikottai taluk of Krishnagiri has become the cynosure of all eyes after the state made public about the  country’s fourth  Zika virus(ZKV) case.

“We live in panic after coming to know about Zika case in Natrampalayam. We have not heard about this fever till now,” 35-year-old M. Ramkumar, a farmer in Natrampalayam Pudur, told Deccan Chronicle.

The villagers also recall state health secretary J. Radhakrishnan’s visit  to Natrampalayam Pudur, a day before the official announcement about Zika.

“The officials came to my house on Sunday and discussed the issue in English which I could not follow. Without giving details about the fever (Zika) they asked me not to get scared and assured that I will get well soon” Mayarudran, 28, a tailor, told Deccan Chronicle.

“I had gone to Kathiri, near Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, and stayed there for more than two months before returning in March, a week before Ugadi,” he added.

Mayarudran said, “Villagers show no discrimination, but I feel embarrassed because I have become the centre of attention.”

Mayarudran had gone to Anchetti primary health centre to get treatment for fever since there was no improvement after getting treatment in private clinics.

After tests for dengue and chikungunya proved negative, blood and urine samples were sent to the King Institute in Chennai and also at the National Institute of Virology in Pune of Maharashtra. Both the results confirmed the was he tested positive for Zika.

According to the medical team conducting a camp in Natrampalayam, Zika case is believed to have been locally transmitted by the ‘Aedes aegypti’ or ‘Aedes aldopictus’ mosquitoes that also spread other viral infections including dengue and chikungunya.

They have also asked villagers not to panic because Zika is completely curable.  They also can get free treatment at all government-run hospitals across the state.

People have been asked to keep their surroundings clean and keep the water stored containers closed to prevent breeding of mosquitoes that spread the fever.

First Zika virus infected man cured: Minister

State health minister Dr C. Vijayabaskar denied any outbreak of the dreaded Zika virus in Tamil Nadu and said the first case of  Zika virus infected man reported from Krishnagiri district, has been cured. Nevertheless, the government has stepped up its surveillance and is taking appropriate measures to ensure there is no occurrence.

“There is no outbreak of Zika in the state (now). Only one man has been diagnosed with having  Zika in a remote Primary Health Centre (PHC). He was treated and is doing well now… There is no need to panic as Zika infection is milder compared to dengue,” Dr. Vijayabaskar told the Assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to the issue raised by MLA Y. Prakash (DMK) representing the Thalli Assembly constituency which falls in Krishnagiri district in the state.

All routine investigations for dengue, chikungunya and leptospirosis tested negative with the patient (hailing from N. Puttur in Natrampalayam Panchayat) who had developed fever, headache, redness of the eyes and weakness. He tested positive for Zika and was treated as an outpatient at a PHC and has completely recovered from it.

Allaying the apprehensions of the people he said all preventive measures were being taken by the government to ensure the infection does not spread. This virus, the Minister said, would not prove fatal. Nevertheless, steps were being taken to monitor the spread of the virus.