Mangaluru's leading Physician Dr. Haroon details everything you need to know about Zika Virus
With the detection of first case of Zika Virus in Karnataka, the people in the state have been vary about the virus and the risks that it comes with. Several media and social media posts have also led to the triggering of panic among the people of the state and neighboring states over a possible outbreak of the virus in the region.
One of the leading Physicians of Mangaluru, Dr. Haroon Hussain, MBBS, MD, and a senior doctor at the Department of Medicine at KMC Hospital Mangalore spoke to Vartha Bharati about the virus, its risks, and possible measures of prevention to help people better understand the Zika Virus.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Dr. Haroon said the virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and its name comes from the Ziika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.
“Zika Virus is significant because it poses the highest threat to pregnant women and the fetus. When a pregnant woman is infected with the virus, there are high chances of the fetus developing severe complications including but not limited to birth defects.” Dr. Haroon said.
“It is spread by Aedes mosquitoes and albopictus who majorly bite people during early mornings and during the daytime. These are same mosquitoes that cause Dengue and Yellow Fever.
“An outbreak of this virus was last reported in 2015-16 in South America. Some of the other major sources of transmission apart from mosquito bites are through pregnancy to fetus, sexual transmission, and blood transfusion and organ transplants.” He added.
“What happens is, an infected mosquito bites a person and the virus is transmitted into the blood. The virus then affects other organs of the body and the patient then develops symptoms. Again, what is notable is the symptoms develop in only about 20-25% of people while the remaining patients what develop mild or no symptoms.
“Common symptoms of the infection includes fever, headache, body pain, joint pain and redness of eyes. Patients in rare cases of infection might also experience hearing loss, skin rashes, and in very few cases they may also experience symptoms and issues in heart and brain.” Dr. Haroon added.
When asked about the post-infection complications, Dr. Haroon added that in rare cases patients can also suffer from paralysis but insisted that the number of such cases being recorded are very low.
Detailing about the risks the virus poses to fetus, Dr. Haroon said the virus can critically affect fetus if the mother is in her first or second trimester of pregnancy. In such cases, the fetus can also die, he suggested.
“In most of the cases with pregnancy transmission, it affects the cells that are responsible for the development of the growth of the brain of fetus. So the child is likely to bear abnormally developed brain along with other complications.” he added.
About the measures for prevention of the infection, Dr. Haroon opines there is an immediate need to spread awareness about the virus and its complications adding that people should also be careful and precautious in their own surrounding along with the authorities who need to take strict measures to box the spread in case of an outbreak.
“The best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should take steps to prevent mosquito bites. These mosquitoes usually breed in stagnant water, so people should be cautious about that and should immediately get rid of places and spots where water is stagnant. People who travel from areas where the virus is active should take measures to avoid contact with pregnant women and other family members.
“During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people. Hence people need to be careful and cautious after travelling etc.” Dr. Haroon further suggested.
The research for the developing of a vaccine for Zika Virus is under the research phase with experts and researchers believing the vaccine will not be widely available for a few more years.
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'Blood in river' rant: Owaisi reminds Bilawal of Benazir Bhutto's killing by homegrown terrorists
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Apr 28 (PTI): AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday criticised Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for his "blood would flow in rivers" remark, reminding him of the killing of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, by home-grown terrorists.
He also referred to former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi as a "joker" for his statement on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
The Hyderabad MP said Pakistan should be placed on the 'grey list' of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and advocated for cyber attacks against the neighbouring nation.
When asked about Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's statement against India following its withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Owaisi remarked that Bhutto-Zardari should question who was responsible for his mother's death, emphasising that "she was killed by such homegrown terrorists."
Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
After India suspended the IWT, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared, "The Indus is ours and will remain ours—either our water will flow through it, or their blood."
Speaking to reporters, Owaisi said his party- the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen- supports the Centre's decision to suspend the IWT.
However, he raised concerns about where the water from the Indus River would be stored after the treaty's suspension, stating, "It has to be stored somewhere."
Under the World Bank-brokered treaty, India was granted exclusive rights to the water of the eastern rivers -- the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- amounting to an average annual flow of about 33 million acre-feet (MAF). The water of the western rivers -- the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- with an average annual flow of around 135 MAF, was largely allocated to Pakistan.
With the treaty now put in abeyance, the government is looking at ways to utilise the water of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
Owaisi asserted that Pakistan should be placed on the FATF grey list to highlight its financing of terrorism through illegal means.
He also urged the government to launch cyber attacks against Pakistan, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides the right to act in self-defence.
Additionally, he demanded that the Narendra Modi government rethink its deterrent policy since incidents like the Pahalgam attack were taking place even after airstrikes.
Reiterating his support for the Centre's decisions, Owaisi remarked, "Pakistan should understand that India's defence budget is bigger than their entire budget. They are 20 years behind India. The politicians there just keep blabbering. That country is facing internal issues. They can't manufacture medicines for malaria but keep talking about fighting India."
Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Act, Owaisi opposed its provisions, arguing that they violated the Constitution.
Regarding the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards, he questioned, "Wouldn't it be painful if we asked for non-Hindus to be included in the Pandharpur temple trust?"
#WATCH | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra | On Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's "Blood will flow" remark after Pahalgam attack, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi says,"...Bachpane ki baatein nahi karna..His mother was killed by their homegrown terrorists...Does he even know what he is… pic.twitter.com/yVn7jegwKn
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025
