Pune records 749 suspected dengue cases this year, spike in June-July

Pune Municipal Corporation health officials said that around 1,708 mosquito breeding sites were found at homes, societies, offices and colleges and an administrative fee of Rs 2.6 lakh was levied.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Aug 8, 2026 05:40 PM IST

Data from the Pune Municipal Corporation showed that Kothrud reported the highest number of 72.

Pune has recorded 749 suspected cases of dengue viral fever this year, of which two-thirds were clocked in June and July alone, according to data.

As per Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department data, there were 175 suspected cases reported in June and 323 in July. In August, 78 suspected cases of dengue viral fever were reported till date.

The suspected cases were positive on the NS1 antigen test, which is an early screening test used to detect dengue viral infection in the first few days of illness. Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Virology lab tests have confirmed 26 positive cases.

Story continues below this ad

Dr Rajesh Dighe, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Pune Municipal Corporation, said that around 1,708 mosquito breeding sites were found at homes, societies, offices and colleges and an administrative fee of Rs 2.6 lakh was levied.

Also read | Pune civic bodies urge community action to prevent water-borne diseases

Kothrud ward reports highest number of cases

Data from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s 16 ward offices showed that Kothrud reported the highest number of 72. It was followed by the Nagar Road–Wadgaonsheri ward with 67 cases and the Warje–Karvenagar ward with 65 cases. Areas under Sahakarnagar and Dhankawadi ward offices reported 64 cases, while 61 cases were reported in areas under Aundh-Baner ward office. Almost all the ward offices have reported suspected dengue fever cases. Civic health authorities have also urged residents to actively participate in mosquito prevention and control activities.

A Kothrud-based parent said it has been a week since her five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with dengue and the child is gradually recovering. Preferring anonymity, the mother said she was unsure where the mosquito bite occurred as her daughter regularly attends school and participates in activities such as swimming classes.

Story continues below this ad

When contacted, Dr Umesh Vaidya, Head, Neonatology at KEM and Ankura Hospital, said that they were seeing dengue cases in children. “In addition to mosquito prevention and control measures at homes and workplaces, there is a need to ensure that children are adequately protected while attending school and playing outdoors. The use of insect repellents, along with other appropriate personal protective measures, should be taken to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and prevent dengue transmission.

Swine flu (AH1N1) cases

Dr Sachin Shah, Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Surya Mother and Child Hospital, said that in the last fortnight they were also treating children with influenza-like illness. “We are also treating several swine flu (AH1N1) cases, and in the last 15 days, or so, there have been close to 60 children who had the viral infection. While the children recover in a few days, it is essential to ensure proper hygiene practices,” Dr Shah added. According to Dr Vaishali Jadhav, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Pune Municipal Corporation, there were 107 confirmed cases of A (H1N1) reported from January till July this year. Around 75 cases were reported in July itself.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Loading Recommendations...

Aug 28: Latest News

Live Blog