Pune sees decline in Zika cases but rise in Dengue and Chikungunya
Pune Sees Rise In Vector-Borne Diseases, Including Malaria
Health officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reported a decline in new Zika virus infections, but cases of Dengue and Chikungunya are increasing. The city recorded its first Zika case of the year on June 20, with a total of 100 infections reported since then. The breakdown includes five cases in June, 54 in July, 39 in August, and two in September.
In contrast, dengue cases surged with 34 reported in July, increasing to 82 in August, and reaching 168 in September. Chikungunya cases also rose from 24 in July to 52 in August and 225 in September.
According to PMC officials, the health department, with support from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, successfully ended the Zika virus transmission chain in September. Scientists from ICMR-NIV found the virus in adult mosquitoes and larvae from Erandwane and Dhanukar Colony, which had clusters of Zika cases. Of the 100 infected individuals, 45 were pregnant women.
Dr. Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer at PMC, emphasized the effectiveness of containment measures in breaking the Zika virus transmission chain. “Entomological surveys and control activities were crucial. We destroyed breeding spots and conducted larva control with fumigation and insecticide spraying,” he stated.
Importantly, none of the 45 pregnant women have reported complications, and their anomaly scan reports are normal.
