Pune records lowest dengue cases till October  in last seven years: PMC

By: Pune Pulse

November 1, 2023

Pune: Data from the state health department indicates that the incidence of dengue in Maharashtra has more than doubled this year. Mumbai, Nagpur, and Thane have accounted for half of the total cases. However, Pune City has made significant strides in containing the outbreak, with less than 200 cases reported from January to October, according to data from the health department of Pune Municipal Corporation.

Overall, Maharashtra has documented 14,488 dengue cases from January to October 28 this year, compared to 6,500-7,000 cases during the same period last year. Mumbai, Nagpur, and Thane have experienced a substantial surge in cases, constituting 47% of the state’s total. The rise in dengue cases is attributed to rapid urbanization and construction activities. In response, municipal corporations have been reminded to enhance surveillance efforts.

Additionally, from January to October of this year, the state has reported 12,863 cases of malaria and 1,125 cases of chikungunya. Although the number of deaths related to dengue has been relatively low, a total of six fatalities have been recorded. In Pune, out of 2,598 suspected cases, 193 individuals have tested positive for dengue viral fever.

Pune City has achieved positive outcomes in dengue prevention through various measures, including awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and housing societies. Data from Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department reveals that in 2022, Pune recorded a total of 686 dengue cases. In contrast, the years 2020 and 2021, dominated by the Covid pandemic, saw the city reporting 183 and 753 cases, respectively. In 2019, Pune City documented 1,407 dengue cases, while in 2017 and 2018, the recorded cases were 1,691 and 682 respectively.

To prevent and control dengue, the health department intensified information, education, and communication activities, raising awareness in educational institutions. During the monsoon months, which mark the peak of the dengue epidemic, the department actively monitored fever cases and implemented precautionary measures such as fogging in the vicinity of suspected dengue patients’ homes.