Odisha Health Director Cautions Pregnant Women About Rubella

Bhubaneswar: A day after two rubella cases were officially confirmed from Odisha’s Nabarangpur district, Health director Bijay Mohapatra has cautioned the pregnant women about the disease.

Mohapatra said if the pregnant women develop rashes or have fever, they must go for medical test to confirm the rubella virus. “The pregnant women particularly should remain careful as the virus may get transmitted to the baby,” he added.

“While it is not fatal among children, pregnant women are vulnerable as there could be congenital rubella syndrome among their children along with heart ailments, cataract and some other complications,” he said.

However, the Health director said there was no need to panic as the situation was under control. “The Health department’s rapid response teams (RRTs) have been keeping a strict watch on the situation and the measles and rubella (MR) immunisation drive has been taken up in a mission mode in the state. Since the virus has been found mostly in the children, the health teams have been focusing on them,” he said.

It may be noted that the rubella has been detected in two children from Nandahandi and Tentulikhunti of Nabarangpur district. The samples were taken from five persons in two blocks of the district on April 29 and sent to Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) for the test. While a one-year-old boy tested positive for measles and rubella, another eight-year-old boy was found to be rubella positive.

Also Read: 2 Children Test Positive For Rubella In Odisha’s Nabarangpur