2,007 suspected cases since Jan, PMC measures fail to control dengue

According to the draft bylaws, it is the responsibility of the individual or the institution using a property to keep it free of mosquito-breeding sites. More than 700 notices have been issued to construction sites and other properties but no action has been initiated against households where the majority of mosquito-breeding spots were detected. “We will be sending the bylaws for approval soon,” Pardeshi said.

Meanwhile, at least 300 of the 650 posts at the insect control department are vacant. These include those of senior and junior field workers. “We have invited tenders and 10 posts are being filled each week,” said Pardeshi, adding: “We are taking action against properties where mosquito-breeding spots have been found.”

He said surveys by the PMC had found 90 per cent of the breeding spots at homes. “Management of water at households is crucial during this time pf the year. We have urged residents to drain out the stagnant water as these can be mosquito-breeding sites, but people fail to do so,” Pardeshi said.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, health officials checked a total of 3.54 lakh containers at homes between June and September and found dengue mosquitoes in 2,208 of them. A total of 19 notices have been issued to construction sites. Dr K Anil Roy, medical officer of health, said 2.5 lakh pamphlets had been distributed to create awareness about dengue.

Dr Kanchan Jagtap, Joint Director of Health, said not all fever cases were checked in the laboratory and as per the surveillance data a total of 2,392 dengue cases had been confirmed across the state. The state has seen 15 deaths, including three in Pune and one in Pimpri-Chinchwad, due to dengue this year. Of the 1,059 confirmed cases of dengue in urban areas, 110 are in Pune, 159 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, 244 in Mumbai and others in Thane and Mira Bhayander.

“We are also seeing a lot of cases in rural areas like Chandrapur, Beed, Dhule and others,” Jagtap said. She said a meeting of medical officers of health would be called and people would be urged to take the right steps in managing water at homes to control the spread of dengue.