At a time when the state is grappling with a heavy caseload of Covid-19 cases, Kerala is faced with yet another challenge in the form of a vector-borne contagion – the Zika virus. The first case of Zika virus was detected in Kerala last week and since then, 27 more have been added to the tally. Following the outbreak, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which share their borders with Kerala, have increased surveillance in border districts.

Last year there were 147 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. This year the number is 2,400. The cause for this unprecedented rise of microcephaly is most likely the Zika virus. The virus has been demonstrated during the autopsy of an infant born with microcephaly. Further more it has also been demonstrated in the amniotic fluid […]