Reports from Kerala Three more Zika cases have been reported, with a toddler among those infected.

Three more people in Kerala have tested positive for Zika virus infection, including a toddler. A 46-year-old man from Thiruvananthapuram, a 29-year-old woman, and a 22-month-old baby were among those who tested positive on Sunday. The lady works in the medical field.

This brings the total number of confirmed Zika infections in Kerala to 18.

On Sunday, three of the eight samples in the third batch were found to be infected.

According to the minister, the state is prepared to conduct Zika virus tests. In the preliminary stage, tests will be carried out in the labs of government-run medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode, as well as at the National Institute of Virology’s Alappuzha unit. The National Institute of Virology in Pune has sent 2,100 PCR test kits to these labs.

Because the majority of the cases have been reported in the district, 1,000 of the 2,100 kits have been given to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Thrissur and Kozhikode medical colleges each received 300 test kits, while Alappuzha NIV received 500.

“The Thiruvananthapuram Medical College received 500 Triplex Kits, which enable the simultaneous detection and differentiation of RNA from dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus, as well as 500 singleplex kits, which can detect Zika virus alone,” the Minister said in a statement.

The Pune NIV has directed the health department to collect blood samples from those suspected of being infected with the Zika virus.

“More labs in the state will be equipped to test for the Zika virus. We have 27 government labs in the state that can perform RT-PCR tests, and as more test kits arrive in the state, we will use these labs to conduct Zika virus tests after receiving permission from the NIV “said the minister.

She stated that hospitals have been instructed to test those patients, particularly pregnant women, who have fever, rashes, and body pain.

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