348 dengue cases in Maharashtra this year, Pune tops the list with 90

According to health department data, there were 66 cases in Pune city area and 25 in the district, 28 each in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Nashik and Solapur. Kolhapur district has reported 20 cases of dengue fever while nearly 25 each have been reported in Yavatmal and Raigad.

In Pune city, at least 38 cases of chikungunya have been reported while another 25 were reported across the district.

Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant health officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, said that 66 people were confirmed with dengue from Jan-March this year. Surveillance has picked up more than 400 suspected cases of dengue.

“We have issued more than 300 notices at places and establishments where mosquito breeding spots were detected and collected an administrative fee of Rs 17,000 in the past three months,” he said.

Dengue is one of the most prevalent vector-borne arboviruses, transmitted between humans by Aedes mosquitoes. Studies have shown a positive association between temperature and dengue transmission, civic health officials said.

Dr Wavare also pointed out that apart from destroying mosquito breeding sites, we have urged citizens to ensure that if water is stored, containers should be covered properly. The usual advisory is routinely circulated especially the need to change stored water every three days.