Pune: After nearly a month without any reported cases, three new Zika virus patients have been identified in Pune. These cases were discovered in the Warje-Karvenagar area and include two men and one young woman.

This comes after a significant lull in Zika cases, with the last reported patient recorded on September 12.

The city first encountered the Zika virus on June 21, when two cases were detected in the Erandwane area. Following this, the number of Zika cases saw a rapid rise, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) health department to take preventative measures.

One such measure was the decision to collect and test blood samples from pregnant women living within a 5-kilometer radius of the affected zones.

As part of the ongoing effort, the PMC has sent blood samples from pregnant women in eight regional zones to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for thorough analysis. Fortunately, none of these cases have resulted in transmission of the virus from pregnant mothers to their babies.

Despite the reduction in Zika cases, the PMC health department continues to maintain strict protocols, focusing on testing, early diagnosis, treatment, and fumigation in affected areas.

The newly detected cases exhibited only mild symptoms of fever, with no severe complications reported thus far. The PMC urges residents to stay vigilant and follow recommended health guidelines to curb further spread.