Pune: Malaria, chikungunya cases on rise this year

Pune: The number of malaria and chikungunya cases in the city this year has gone up considerably, compared to that the previous year. However, the number of dengue cases has decreased.

On its part, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is undertaking fogging operations to counter the mosquito menace. Records available with the insect control cell of the health department of the PMC revealed that between January and mid-October this year there were 112 cases of malaria and 45 cases of chikungunya. In the same period last year, there were 104 cases of malaria and no reported case of chikungunya.

With respect to dengue, the situation is better this year. While 122 cases of dengue were reported between January and mid-October last year, this year 94 cases were reported.

The PMC's insect control cell head Sadashiv Patole said the mosquito menace in the city during the rainy season has grown this year. "We are taking steps to curb breeding of mosquitoes and prevent water logging," he said.

Patole said 72 fogging machines are being used by the regional ward offices in areas where the menace is higher. He added that tenders have been floated to buy more machines.

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Acting health chief of the civic body, RR Pardeshi, said the scenario in the city is better than that in other cities. "Recently, the standing committee directed the civic administration to undertake fogging in the entire city and we are doing it," he added.

The data with the PMC is based on cases reported in its own hospitals, and registered at private nursing homes and hospitals.

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However, neither corporators nor citizens feel that the PMC is doing enough to tackle the mosquito menace. About one-and-a-half months ago, there was chaos at the civic general body meeting, when members, cutting across party lines, demanded an explanation from the administration for not taking proper measures to tackle the mosquito menace.

Later, the standing committee approved funds for the purchase of fogging machines.

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NCP corporator, Ashwini Kadam, from Padmavati area, said many people are suffering from vector-borne diseases. "In areas like Sahakarnagar number 1, Padmavati and Aryaneshwar areas, the mosquito menace is tremendous. The civic administration must do more to check the problem is tackled," she said.

Citizens too are complaining. A resident of Karvenagar area, Ramesh Patil, said they are also suffering from the problem. "It is difficult to sleep without a mosquito net," he said.

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