The Sports Authority of India’s South Centre has sought to downplay fears of Sudha Singh suffering from a possible Zika virus infection. The athlete arrived here on Saturday complaining of a high temperature and joint pains, and was admitted to a nearby hospital after initial examination at the SAI.
SAI Senior Scientific Officer Dr. S.R. Sarala said Sudha had a viral infection and they were conducting tests to rule out Zika.
Dr. Sarala added: “Her blood pressure was quite low when she arrived. I was quite surprised (that she had travelled in that condition). She was weak and unable to speak or even express herself. But she’s better now. She will take time to recover. She has a viral infection but that doesn’t mean she’s suffering from Zika. Since Zika is endemic to that area (Brazil), that is just one line of investigation we are pursuing,” she said.
The 30-year-old’s serum samples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for Zika virus testing.
