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Two deaths — one each from Baramati and Phaltan — due to dengue fever has put the spotlight on why it is so important to destroy mosquito-breeding sites, says Dr Rajesh Gadia, top consulting physician at KEM Hospital. “Baramati (in Pune district) and Phaltan (in Satara district) are the worst-hit and we have treated several patients with dengue fever from here. Find mosquito-breeding sites and eliminate them,” Dr Gadia urged health authorities.
On Tuesday, a 19-year-old boy from Phaltan succumbed to dengue and complications at KEM hospital while last week a 49-year old woman died of dengue and multi-organ failure. “Due to heavy rains the whole of last week the flowing water helped wash away the breeding sites. There is likely to be a temporary lull in cases but we will see the next spurt in August -September,” Dr Gadia cautioned and reiterated why it was so important to destroy the mosquito-breeding spots.
Health officials at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have reported 1,019 suspected dengue cases from January till July end this year. Of these over half (689) suspected cases have been reported in June and July itself. So far 29 have tested positive for dengue viral fever and 22 for chikungunya. There have been no deaths from Pune city as per civic health department officials.
Dr Nina Borade, Chief Medical Officer, PMC, said they have intensified fogging and even stepped up awareness at the community level urging people to adopt personal protection measures at their households. Dr Suryakant Deokar, assistant health chief at PMC, said they have issued 1,272 notices at construction sites, buildings, even small tyre shops where mosquito breeding spots were found and collected Rs 4.6 lakh as administrative fee.
47 Zika cases in city, rise in H1NI, Covid-19 cases
Pune city has reported a total 47 zika virus infection cases till date. Of these 15 are pregnant women. “All their scans are normal,” Dr Deokar said. The civic health department has sent as many as 500 serum samples of pregnant women to the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology for examination. From January till June end this year, the civic health department has reported a total of 116 cases of H1N1 virus and 505 cases of Covid-19. A total of five deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported.
According to Dr Amit Dravid, infectious diseases expert at Noble hospital, there has been an uptick in cases of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. “We are seeing an increase in cases of H1N1 virus, H3N2 virus and others apart from the vector borne diseases like dengue, zika and chikungunya. There are patients with cold, cough and fever with breathlessness and who require oxygen support. Some elderly persons with co-morbid conditions are on ventilator support,” he cautioned.
Dr Umesh Vaidya, senior paediatrician, KEM hospital and Ankura hospital, said this monsoon there were plenty of viruses circulating and hence if clinically required investigative tests are recommended. “Mild to moderate like infections are self limiting. However, Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) swabs are sent for virological tests from among children who are hospitalised,” Dr Vaidya said.
Dr Borade, however, pointed out that sporadic cases of H1N1 virus (swine flu) and Covid-19 have been reported. “Unless and until the National Institute of Virology gives us confirmatory reports we cannot label all influenza cases as H1N1. However we are on an alert,” Dr Borade pointed out.
