Pune: PMC Steps Up Monsoon Health Vigil, Appeals Citizens to Follow Preventive Measures

Pune, May 20, 2025:

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Health Department – Communicable Diseases Control Division has issued a public advisory to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases during the monsoon season. A training session for all zonal and field medical officers, as well as those at Urban Community and Primary Health Centres (UCHC/UPHC), was conducted on May 16 to strengthen disease surveillance and response.

Medical officers across all PMC-run clinics and hospitals have been instructed to ensure availability of infectious disease medicine kits. Additionally, a 50-bed fully equipped ward has been set up at Dr. Naidu Infectious Disease Hospital, with 24×7 medical services.

Awareness instructions have been circulated among field medical officers, and a dedicated Disease Control Cell has been established at the municipal level.

The PMC has urged citizens to exercise caution as contaminated drinking water and exposure to unhygienic food during monsoon can lead to outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis, malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

Citizens are advised to follow these precautions:

Personal Hygiene:

• Use PMC tap water for drinking; avoid unpurified sources like borewells or canals.
• Avoid consuming stale or uncovered food; store food properly.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap before meals and after using the toilet.
• Boil and filter drinking water before consumption.
•  Use window screens, wear full-sleeved clothes, and use mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites.

Empty and clean water containers weekly, and eliminate items like coconut shells, buckets, tires, and bottles that collect stagnant rainwater.

Public Cleanliness:

• Housing societies must clean water tanks regularly.
• Schools and colleges should ensure clean drinking water tanks.
• Maintain clean surroundings and segregate wet and dry waste properly.
• Construction sites must prevent water accumulation at labour camps.

For Respiratory Illnesses:

• Use a triple-layer mask when experiencing cold or cough.
• Cover mouth while coughing/sneezing; wash hands frequently with soap or sanitizer.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands, and keep distance from sick individuals.

Medical Care:

Immediate treatment should be sought for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. Free treatment is available at all PMC hospitals and Dr. Naidu Hospital.

Private practitioners must report any infectious disease cases to the health department, including cholera, typhoid, gastro, jaundice, dengue, chikungunya, malaria, COVID-19, and H1N1.

The PMC emphasizes community participation in keeping Pune healthy and urges citizens to be vigilant and cooperative during the monsoon. The information was issued by Dr. Vaishali Jadhav

Assistant Health Officer, Communicable Disease Control Dept and 

Dr. Nina Borade Chief Health Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation.