Maharashtra reports 3,736 dengue cases till July, chikungunya cases double

Chikungunya cases in Maharashtra recorded from January to July this year have more than doubled with 875 cases, as against 363 recorded in the corresponding period last year, according to the state health department data. While the dengue case count for the same period remains similar to last year, there has been a rise in malaria cases this year, the data says. This year 3,736 cases of dengue were reported in Maharashtra while it was 3,164 cases and four deaths last year. The state clocked 5,300 cases of malaria from January to July this year and three deaths as compared to 4,867 cases and 2 deaths in the corresponding period last year. Pune leads the state’s tally of highest number of chikungunya cases this season with at least 83 confirmed cases. It is followed by 82 in Kolhapur, 57 in Akola and 55 in Sangli-Miraj. Festive offer “While no death has been reported in the state due to chikungunya, there has been one death due to dengue viral infection,” Mahendra Jagtap, state epidemiologist, said. Dr Rajesh Gadia, consulting physician at KEM hospital, said that this season there was a rise in cases of fever, cough and cold, dengue and chikungunya. “However, there are patients with severe symptoms of chikungunya and complaints of not being able to walk. We are seeing many cases from Bhosari and Chakan, apart from Pune. There are also a similar number of dengue cases. We have treated severe ones that are from Baramati and Phaltan,” Dr Gadia said. Dr Amit Dravid, infectious diseases consultant at Noble Hospital, said that it was a triple whammy this season with dengue, chikungunya and zika virus infections. “There are complications related to chikungunya with severe bone pain and encephalitis,” he said. In every 10,000 patients there will be one or two with these complications, he added. Dr. Jayant Khandare, a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Surya Mother and Child Super-Specialty hospital, also cautioned that parents should be vigilant for symptoms on children such as sudden fever, intense headache, eye pain, joint and muscle pain and skin rash. Simple measures can help combat dengue by removing stagnant water near residences, using mosquito repellents and ensuring children wear protective clothing, he added. Mumbai, Nashik, Kolhapur account for 26% dengue cases Mumbai has reported 513 cases of dengue viral infection followed by 348 at Nashik and 141 at Kolhapur. Overall the state clocked 3,736 dengue cases and Mumbai, Nashik and Kolhapur account for 26 per cent of these cases. According to data with Pune Municipal Corporation, 16 of the 720 suspected cases of dengue were positive with the viral infection. There were 15 cases of chikungunya, according to PMC health department data. “We have issued over 1,000 notices to housing societies, under construction firms and other such places where mosquito breeding sites have been identified and levied an administrative fee of Rs 3.87 lakh accordingly,” Dr Suryakant Deokar, assistant chief medical officer, PMC said. Spike in malaria cases