The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot, Gujarat, has recently been recognized as a Zika virus screening facility, significantly reducing the reliance on sending swab samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, Maharashtra. This recognition by the Indian Council of Medical Research marks a major milestone in enhancing the state’s capability to promptly identify and manage Zika virus cases.
Professor Ashwini Agarwal, head of the microbiology department at AIIMS Rajkot, announced that the center has received the necessary testing kits from NIV and is set to commence Zika virus testing shortly. The new testing center at AIIMS Rajkot is expected to be operational from next week, enabling the delivery of test results for suspected Zika virus cases within 24 hours. Previously, when samples from Gujarat were sent to NIV Pune, the confirmation process took anywhere from one week to a month. This advancement will expedite the diagnosis and treatment process, ensuring timely medical intervention.
Additionally, Professor Agarwal mentioned that the central government has sanctioned the construction of a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory at AIIMS Rajkot, which will handle highly infectious and pathogenic organisms. The construction of this lab is scheduled to begin next month. The BSL-3 lab will further strengthen the institute’s capacity to manage and research infectious diseases, enhancing public health preparedness.
The Zika virus, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, is known to cause infections such as dengue and chikungunya. First identified in Uganda in 1947, the virus has since spread to various parts of the world, including India. Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel reported in the Rajya Sabha that thirteen cases of Zika virus had been recorded in India until July 22 this year, with three cases in Karnataka and ten in Maharashtra. In previous years, India witnessed 23 cases in 2023, two cases in 2022, and 234 cases in 2021. Gujarat had last reported three cases of Zika virus in 2017.
The establishment of the Zika virus testing center at AIIMS Rajkot comes after the inauguration of Gujarat’s first AIIMS by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25. Spread across 201 acres, Rajkot AIIMS is a state-of-the-art medical facility with 720 beds, including an ICU, built at a cost of Rs.1,195 crore.
The recognition of AIIMS Rajkot as a Zika virus screening facility is a significant step towards improving public health infrastructure in Gujarat. It will ensure quicker diagnosis and response to Zika virus outbreaks, ultimately contributing to better management and control of infectious diseases in the region.
SOURCE:
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
