For the first time, Zika virus infection has been confirmed in Kerala. Announcing the same, Kerala's health Minister Veena George revealed that the victim was a 24-year-old pregnant woman from Parassala, Trivandrum. The woman got admitted following symptoms such as fever, headache, and red marks on skin on June 28th. She was diagnosed with the disease as she tested positive in the primary tests.

On June 7th the woman gave birth to a healthy baby. The lady's health condition is stable now. Meanwhile, 13 Keralites from the Trivandrum district are suspected to have contracted the disease, which is spread through mosquito bites. The samples are yet to be confirmed by the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Due to this, all districts have been given an alert and the government has initiated preventive measures.

The symptoms of the Zika virus are similar to that of Chikungunya. Aedes mosquitos which bite during day time spread the disease. The incubation period of the Zika virus is between 3 to 14 days, and a majority of people infected by it do not develop any actual symptoms. Some milder symptoms, exhibited by few individuals, include fever, rashes, headache, muscle, and joint pain etc. The disease can also be transmitted through blood transfusion or sexual activities. Avoiding the chances of a mosquito bite is the ideal way to prevent the disease.