Zika virus amid COVID‐19 in India: A rising concern

Zika, Nipah and Kala-azar: Emerging lethal infectious diseases amid COVID-19 as an escalating public health threat in South India

“…Furthermore, symptoms such as fever, malaise, and myalgia are common among COVID-19 patients, and other communicable diseases pose significant challenges in accurate diagnosis and management in resource-limited settings. What is even more concerning, is the high transmission rate of these contagious diseases, thereby placing the frontline healthcare workers at a particularly high risk [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Although the COVID-19 fatality rate in Kerala was as low as 0.51, the test positivity rate was high at 5.58 [ 6 ].…”

“…Stewing in the flares of the pandemic, Kerala is entwined with the wrath of multiple emerging lethal infectious diseases. The state alone contributes to 50% of the COVID-19 caseload, besides, recent simultaneous outbreaks of ZVD, NiVD, and VL, also called kala-azar or black fever, on July 8, September 5, and 8, 2021 respectively [ 1 , 6 , [9] , [10] , [11] ]. The high case-fatality rates of these diseases coupled with post-infection sequelae overwhelm the already fragile healthcare system.…”

“…Despite having varied aetiopathogenesis, these diseases may share a common spectrum of signs and symptoms. The severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or novel Coronavirus (nCoV) causing COVID-19 spreads via droplets and fomites; Flavivirus causing ZVD is transmitted by the vector female Aedes mosquitoes; and the Paramyxovirus causes NiVD, whereas Leishmania protozoa is transmitted via the bite of infected female sandflies, resulting in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Major symptoms including fever, low blood counts, hepatomegaly, chronic dry cough, and disorientation are similar among COVID-19, ZVD, NiVD, and VL, despite the incubation period varying from up to 14 days for these viral infections and up to 4 months for VL [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ].…”

“…The severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or novel Coronavirus (nCoV) causing COVID-19 spreads via droplets and fomites; Flavivirus causing ZVD is transmitted by the vector female Aedes mosquitoes; and the Paramyxovirus causes NiVD, whereas Leishmania protozoa is transmitted via the bite of infected female sandflies, resulting in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Major symptoms including fever, low blood counts, hepatomegaly, chronic dry cough, and disorientation are similar among COVID-19, ZVD, NiVD, and VL, despite the incubation period varying from up to 14 days for these viral infections and up to 4 months for VL [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Moreover, individuals of geriatric age or immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, children under the age of five years, healthcare or laboratory workers, animals, carcasses, or cadaver handlers encompass the risk groups shared among these diseases.…”

“…Moreover, individuals of geriatric age or immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, children under the age of five years, healthcare or laboratory workers, animals, carcasses, or cadaver handlers encompass the risk groups shared among these diseases. Chronic ailments, travel, and overcrowding further amplify this risk [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] ].…”