Pune city is battling a surge in Zika virus infections. As per recent reports, they have recorded a total of 6 cases in Pune and 2 others from other districts of Maharashtra. But, in a shocking turn of events, two of the Zika-infected patients from Pune also reported a co-infection of chikungunya and dengue.
An official from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) told the media that, a patient who had been infected with Zika also tested positive for chikungunya IgM antibodies indicating a co-infection.
Pune city is a hotspot for vector-borne diseases; among them, the most prevalent are dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. During monsoon season, the risks of these infections are also high. The first possible scenario of transmission is if one mosquito can carry and spread multiple viruses. The second possible scenario is when one person gets bitten by multiple mosquitoes carrying different infections. Therefore, a co-infection is not entirely out of the blue however, its severity can be debatable.
Experts also warn that the Zika virus can lead to serious complications among pregnant women so they need to be protected from the potential risk of microcephaly or other congenital abnormalities in the fetus.