PMC report finds no abnormalities in foetuses of Zika-infected pregnant women
New Delhi: Zika virus is rampantly spreading across Pune City in Maharashtra. Since the last two months, at least 66 cases of Zika virus infection have been reported in the city, according to civic officials. Noticing the rise in cases, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department found that no abnormalities have been detected in the foetuses of the Zika-infected pregnant women.According to a PTI report, four Zika virus patients have died but the cause in each case was not Zika infection. The people who got infected with the virus include 26 pregnant women but most of them are in good health. The anomaly scan reports of 22 out of these 32 women and the nuchal translucency (NT) scan of one woman are normal, reported HT. The rest nine pregnant women who are 11 weeks and 34 weeks pregnant will undergo a test to check for birth defects.Dr Swati Gaikwad, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Pune earlier spoke to News9 on the risk of Zika virus in pregnant women. She said, the Zika virus can severely impact pregnant women and can cause serious complications making it harmful for both the mother and the fetus. On the other hand, according to the scientists of the Indian Council of Medical Research National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, whole genome sequencing of the virus from the blood samples of Zika-infected patients from Erandwane in June revealed that the virus is an Asian strain or genotype.Zika virus test for pregnant womenAs per recent Ministry of Health and Family Welfare department guidelines, all pregnant women should undergo two ultrasound examinations. The first ultrasound should be performed at 18 to 20 weeks and the second ultrasound scan at 28 to 30 weeks of gestation. The serial ultrasonography should be at the discretion of the treating gynaecologist and concerned radiologist.Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito who are known to transmit infections like dengue and chikungunya.
