By Kritika Gangwar
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is struggling with incomplete patient data from diagnostic labs, as Pune recorded a spike in chikungunya cases in August. This has made it harder to monitor, track and control vector-borne diseases in the city.
According to data from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), 21 people tested positive for dengue and 14 for chikungunya in the month of August. While the number of cases for dengue remained highly consistent with previous months, the cases of chikungunya saw a sharp rise. After recording seven cases from January to July, the number doubled in August.
The PMC has intensified fogging and mosquito-control measures in identified hotspots in order to reduce the spread. It has also issued 2,231 notices to residential properties and institutions where conditions conducive to mosquito breeding were found, and collected fines up to Rs.4.46 lakh.
Assistant Health Officer Dr Rajesh Dighe said preventive measures are being taken around a patient’s home as soon as a case is detected, in order to prevent it from spreading further and forming clusters in the neighbourhood.
Officials have warned that people with existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders and cancer are more likely to face greater complications from dengue and chikungunya. They are advised to seek medical help immediately if they experience high fever, pain behind eyes, joint pain, low blood pressure or persistent vomiting.
Pune’s reporting challenges are similar to those faced by other cities in India during the monsoon season. Bengaluru recorded over 2,370 cases of dengue in August, its highest monthly total in two years, while Mumbai has also reported a rise in cases of malaria and gastroenteritis.
Researchers have highlighted that Pune’s official dengue figures, which rely largely on tests confirmed by NIV, may not reflect the actual number of cases in the city. A multi-year study found that relying on a single diagnostic test could miss between a quarter and nearly half of dengue infections. This shows how incomplete and complicated reports from diagnostic labs continue to pose challenges for public health authorities across the country.