Pune: Zika virus patient reports rare neurological complication

Doctors at Noble Hospital and Research Centre in Hadapsar, Pune, reported an exceptionally rare neurological complication in a 61-year-old man diagnosed with Zika virus infection. The patient, suffering from Zika meningoencephalitis, is the first such case in India, with previous similar complications reported only in the USA and Brazil. Meningoencephalitis involves simultaneous inflammation of the brain and the surrounding meninges, presenting a life-threatening condition.

Dr. Ameet Dravid and his team confirmed the Zika virus infection in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patient, who had been admitted with fever, headache, body ache, and loose motions. Despite various tests, no initial cause was found. The patient collapsed and went into a coma on July 12, and subsequent tests confirmed Zika virus in his blood and CSF. Following the confirmation, the medical team treated the patient with steroids and invasive ventilation, resulting in the patient's recovery from the coma and transfer to a normal ward.