151 Chikungunya Cases In 3 Months: Pune Battles Vector-Borne Disease OutbreakÂ
151 Chikungunya Cases In 3 Months: Pune Battles Vector-Borne Disease OutbreakÂ
Despite a surge in vector-borne diseases, the State Health Department has reported only 151 chikungunya cases in Pune city over the last three months, sparking concerns of data manipulation. Health experts and citizens have questioned the accuracy of these figures, citing hundreds of daily cases and an overwhelming number of patients seeking treatment in hospitals.
“The government machinery is not serious about controlling the surge in vector-borne diseases,” said a health expert. “They’re manipulating data to serve political interests, downplaying the actual crisis faced by the public.” PMC data contradicts the state’s claims, revealing a daily influx of patients suffering from chikungunya, dengue, and malaria.
Over 30 hospitals in the city, including prominent ones like Sassoon General Hospital, Kamla Nehru Hospital, and Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, are struggling to cope with the rising number of admissions. According to a report by the Malaria, Elephantiasis and Waterborne Diseases Department of the State Health Department, from January 2023 to September 7, 2024, 26 people have died of malaria and 72 from dengue in the state.
Alarming statistics reveal 29,565 malaria cases, with 26 deaths, and 29,120 dengue cases, resulting in 72 fatalities, during the same period. Additionally, 4,345 chikungunya cases have been reported, with no attributed deaths. The state has also seen 23 cholera-related deaths, 10 diarrhoea-related deaths, and one jaundice-related death in the past three years.
The lack of transparency and action from the health department raises concerns. Despite the severity of the outbreak, no significant action plan is in place to control the situation. Furthermore, inadequate prevention measures, including insufficient insecticide spraying, leave residents vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.
In one instance, seven residents of a housing society in the Yerawada-Kalas-Dhanori zone contracted dengue, yet no insecticide spraying was conducted. Two Zika cases were also reported in the same zone, with no adequate surveillance or preventive measures taken. This negligence highlights a major gap in the city’s epidemic control measures, putting Punekars’ health at risk.
As the situation continues to worsen, citizens demand transparency and effective action from the authorities to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases.
