Pune among 10 cities in Maharashtra responsible for nearly half the number of dengue cases

According to the state surveillance data, 1,237 cases of dengue were recorded till May-end this year in Maharashtra. During the corresponding period last year as many as 807 cases were recorded.

The 10 cities that together account for half of the cases this year are: Mumbai (335) followed by Nashik (88), Sangli (72), Solapur (32), Kolhapur (30), Pune (21), Nagpur (17), Aurangabad (14), Nanded (11) and Thane (11).

Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Jagtap said, “The short spells of rain this year has led to a slight rise in the number of new cases of dengue. We have stepped up awareness and are educating communities on prevention and control of dengue.”

The rise is being noted in districts like Palghar where a total of 112 dengue cases were recorded.

There, however, has been a dip in the number of chikungunya cases that were reported till May end across the state. A total of 200 cases were reported this year as against 328 in the corresponding period last year. Pune rural has reported 16 cases of chikungunya this year.

Meanwhile, surveillance data shows that till May end this year, 2,579 malaria cases were reported which is 20 per cent less than the numbers reported in the corresponding period last year. There are five districts – Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli — that have reported zero cases of malaria and 16 districts have reported between 1 and 10 cases of malaria.

As many as 15,451 cases of malaria were reported in 2022 – as against 19,303 cases in 2021.

State health officials said that several initiatives, including biological methods of using guppy fish, have helped in containing malaria and tackling mosquito breeding spots. June is observed as an anti-malaria month and efforts are taken to step up awareness about preventing and controlling dengue prior to the onset of monsoon.

Officials said that dengue cases have been rising in recent years with repeated outbreaks.

This is mainly due to rapid urbanization and other factors, the officials added. State officials have also sounded a note of caution urging municipal corporations and councils to remain alert and be vigilant against the viral disease.