Dengue and Chikungunya Cases in Pune See Sharp Decline in November

Pune, 11th November 2024: The spread of dengue and chikungunya in Pune city has significantly reduced. After a rise in cases since July, the number of patients suffering from these diseases has dropped substantially in November. This month, 58 suspected cases of dengue have been reported, with no cases of chikungunya. According to the Health Department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), a total of 4,422 dengue cases have been recorded in Pune this year, with 357 confirmed diagnoses.

Dengue cases began rising in July, with 636 suspected cases. In August, the number climbed to 1,150, followed by 1,291 in September and 800 in October. However, the number of patients has now dropped to 58 in November. The increase in dengue cases coincided with the onset of the monsoon, and cases continued to rise thereafter. After the monsoon ended, the number of cases began to decrease.

Chikungunya cases also surged in Pune city from July onwards. A total of 448 chikungunya cases have been reported this year, with 24 cases in July, 52 in August, 225 in September, and 137 in October. No Chikungunya cases have been reported this month.

Mosquito-borne diseases generally rise during the rainy season due to the higher number of mosquitoes. Dr. Rajesh Dighe, Assistant Health Officer of PMC, explained that after the monsoon ends, mosquito breeding decreases, leading to a reduction in the number of diseases. In response to the surge in insect-borne diseases, the PMC Health Department focused on mosquito prevention measures, including spraying insecticides and identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites. Additionally, PMC issued notices to 2,416 property owners and collected a fine of Rs 7,84,250 for locating mosquito breeding sites.