Pune records maximum cases of chikungunya in Maha

Pune, Sep 20: Over 90 per cent of the total 439 cases of chikungunya in Maharashtra since January this year have been reported from Pune district, according to a latest Health Department report. "So far, 439 cases of chikungunya have been recorded in the state.

Out of these, 393 cases are detected in Pune district between January 1 and August 31," Joint Director, health department, Kanchan Jagtap said.

In Pune, out of 393, 225 cases were reported from Pune city, while 168 from rural parts of the district, she said, adding that the figures indicate the city civic body needs to intensify surveillance and eliminate the breeding spots of aedes aegypti mosquito which causes dengue and chikungunya.

She said neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has negligible number and only 14 cases were recorded till August 31.

Meanwhile, apprising on rising menace dengue in the state, Jagtap said till August 31, a total of 2,572 cases were found to be positive for the vector-borne disease. Of the total number, 1,672 were recorded in urban parts of the state, while 900 in rural.

"In August alone this year, 794 cases of dengue were detected in the state, of which 620 were found in urban areas," the officer said.

She attributed intermittent rainfall, accumulation of water, and absence of effective solid waste management as key reasons behind spiralling cases of chikungunya and dengue.

"We have been issuing constant advisories to the civic bodies and asked them to strengthen the anti-larval and anti- mosquito surveillance, do constant fogging, create awareness among people to keep their surroundings dry and not allowing water accumulation," said Jagtap.

With Pune recording the maximum number of chikungunya cases, Jagtap said health department is constantly in touch with the civic authority and has asked it to adopt exhaustive measures to bring the cases down.

"We have asked them to do mapping of most affected areas in the city and create awareness among people. I am sure that if exhaustive and preventive measures are adopted in the city, we collectively can get rid of diseases like dengue and chikungunya," she said.

PTI