The detection of seven Zika cases in Pune over the past two weeks, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has escalated its surveillance efforts, extending the monitoring area to a radius of 500 metres around confirmed cases. This proactive measure has prompted concerns among local health authorities and residents alike.
PMC officials, in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology (NIV), have expanded their surveillance perimeter from the previous limit of 150 metres to now encompass a broader area. This decision follows recommendations from scientists to enhance monitoring to contain the spread of the virus effectively.Health official from PMC said, “PMC has initiated surveillance within a 500-metre radius of the affected zones. As part of our strategy, we are prioritizing the screening of all pregnant women residing in these areas to mitigate any potential risks associated with Zika infection.” Currently, PMC has identified clusters of pregnant women in Dahanukar Colony, Erandwane, and Mundhwa, all of whom will undergo rigorous screening protocols.PMC officials have acknowledged challenges related to manpower shortages, which could potentially impact the efficiency of surveillance activities. Auxiliary nurse midwives have been tasked with conducting thorough screenings, including blood tests, to detect Zika infection early among pregnant women.
Former corporators have voiced concerns over PMC’s initial response, urging for more robust measures to curb the virus’s spread. They emphasized the need for improved public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of preventive measures, drawing parallels to the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.Another health official from PMC, highlighted the complexities involved in obtaining voluntary cooperation from residents for blood sampling and emphasized the necessity of community engagement in combating the outbreak effectively.State health officials have echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of enhanced surveillance and community-based initiatives to tackle Aedes-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. They have reinforced the deployment of specialist medical teams and the establishment of sentinel centres across the state to bolster clinical management and disease surveillance.As the situation evolves, PMC remains committed to implementing stringent measures, including intensified fogging and public health awareness campaigns, to mitigate the spread of Zika virus and safeguard public health in Pune.
