Early showers lead to increase in dengue cases in Maharashtra

Pune: State data showed that dengue continued to remain a challenge for the public healthcare department with both urban and rural areas showing a significant number of cases which experts attributed to migration and dense urbanisation. National Dengue Day was observed on May 16.

The state govt had already reported 1,755 dengue-positive cases from the start of the year till May first week even before the beginning of peak dengue season in monsoon, when reported numbers were likely to increase.

With pre-monsoon showers exceeding previous year’s record in major urban areas like Mumbai and Pune, more people could end up with the infection. Experts attributed dengue as an urban disease which was further aggravated because of improper housing, water management and drainage systems.

State entomologist Dr Mahendra Jagtap said, “Dengue is an urban disaster, mosquitoes spread the infection from one person to another. Dense and unplanned urbanisation create ideal situations for mosquitoes to breed. Additionally, people’s ignorance allows accumulation of water under plant pots, discarded tyres, broken utensils or even plastic sheets on top of slums. All these are perfect spots for mosquitoes to breed close to the population. Stagnant water in puddles and clogged drains also become breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito transmitting dengue. These mosquitoes prefer to breed in clean water, unlike some other mosquito species.” Experts also anticipated that early and excess pre-monsoon showers meant that the breeding season would start earlier and could lead to higher number of cases.

Dr Devashish Desai, consultant of infectious diseases at Ruby Hall Clinic, said, “Dengue is a direct cause of climate change along with urbanisation. The mosquitoes breeds in urban water supplies. For example, if you have flower pots and there are tyres lying around and rain water collects in it or even if there’s been construction and the laid concrete is being cured collecting water —mosquitoes will breed. Dengue is primarily a disease of urban environments.”

However, data from the state public health department showed a significant number of cases were being reported from villages too and this could be because of migration of population from villages to the city and vice-versa during vacations. “Movement of people infected with dengue can introduce the virus to new areas,” added Desai.

As per current data, the top three civic bodies in the state adding to the burden of dengue cases were Mumbai (285), Nashik (79) and Kolhapur (45). Rural areas were also reporting a drastic rise and the top three districts were Palghar (174), Kolhapur (117) and Akola (71). Pune Municipal Corporation was one among the top 15 civic bodies that had reported 10 dengue-positive cases.