Pune: Vector-borne diseases, including dengue and chikungunya, have been on the rise in the city over the past few weeks amid hot and humid weather. The surge has pushed up patient counts in hospitals and prompted civic authorities to take strict action against mosquito breeding sites.A doctor at a leading hospital in the city noted that some patients were arriving late for treatment and admission, despite having suffered from fever for several days. He said, “The fever in dengue patients gives confusing signals in the initial phase, as it often subsides during the day and intensifies in the evening. Some patients may feel they are recovering, but that is a dangerous misconception.”Dr Dattatraya B. Patil, a consultant physician at Noble Hospitals and Research Centre, added, “There has been a rise in the number of viral fever cases in our OPD (outpatient department). About 15–20% of these patients are testing positive for dengue. Patients should not ignore symptoms such as high-grade fever, eyeball pain, headaches, body and joint pain, vomiting, and loose motions. Dengue requires urgent attention; however, with proper medication and early treatment, it can be managed effectively.”Several severe cases requiring ICU admission have also been reported recently. Infectious diseases expert Dr Sujata Rege said, “While there is a rise in hospitalisations due to dengue and dengue-like fevers, this is a common trend every monsoon. Patients with a prior history of dengue may experience a faster drop in platelet counts than those infected for the first time. However, the treatment remains the same regardless of the strain.”Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said the civic body does not independently investigate prevalent dengue strains, as that requires specialised infrastructure. “We collaborate with the National Institute of Virology for this purpose, though the reports we receive typically only indicate whether samples are positive or negative for dengue,” he said.He said, “As of Sept 7, the PMC has reported 1,266 suspected dengue cases and 47 laboratory-confirmed cases. Additionally, 21 chikungunya cases have been reported.”Against the backdrop of this spurt in infections, the PMC has begun cracking down on mosquito breeding sites. “We have issued over 2,200 notices and collected over Rs4 lakh in fines,” Dr. Dighe said.Meanwhile, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) inspected approximately 4.37 lakh homes, identifying mosquito breeding sites in 3,900 of them. The PCMC issued notices to 2,838 individuals and collected fines totalling over Rs10 lakh. To date, Pimpri Chinchwad has reported 16 confirmed and 684 suspected dengue cases.In a recent meeting led by additional commissioner Pavneet Kaur, PMC announced the “stop dengue” campaign. Kaur stated, “We have issued instructions to every department to ensure they contribute to the cause. The health department will identify and destroy breeding sites, while the encroachment department will ensure that rainwater does not accumulate in materials seized during anti-encroachment drives. They will also take action against businesses conducting unauthorised tire and puncture-related activities on roads and footpaths. Additionally, the solid waste management department will remove unusable materials from public spaces and raise awareness regarding garbage collection and precautions against mosquito-borne diseases.”
