Pune: Chikungunya incidence low; dengue still a bigger worry

PUNE: A number of citizens in the city are testing positive for chikungunya, but these cases are still fewer than the dengue caseload.
Aedes aegypti mosquito is the vector for both dengue and chikungunya which occur primarily during the June-December period. Pune is a known dengue hotbed, but chikungunya cases are not uncommon.
"Sporadic cases of chikungunya are being seen. But the dengue caseload is higher," said Dr Rajesh Gadia, head of the medicine department at KEM Hospital, Rasta Peth.
He added that early last month, certain neighbourhoods in Kharadi had reported a number of chikungunya cases. "It was actually a chikungunya outbreak that was limited to the Kharadi area. But numbers are now down compared to last month," Dr Gadia said.
Dr Avinash Bhondwe, a senior GP in Shivajinagar, said, "I have treated two chikungunya patients over the last few days. Cases are there, but in low numbers."
He added that the ratio of dengue fever to chikungunya is 80:10. "The remaining 10% are patients who reported dengue-like symptoms, but tested negative for the disease," he said
Swollen ankles are key symptoms of chikungunya.
"A sizeable number of patients are presenting with swelling on ankles/feet, along with high-grade fever, body ache and joint pains," Dr Bhondwe said.
Experts said chikungunya is mostly diagnosed by doctors based on a patient's symptoms as fatal complications are considered a rarity. It often happens that a patient is prescribed symptomatic treatment without being subjected to any diagnostic tests. This is one of the reasons why many chikungunya cases go unreported, experts said.
According to the PMC's records, Pune city has had 72 chikungunya cases so far this year. But a civic report said there have been zero cases in July.
A civic official said, "We collate cases of vector-borne diseases from private hospitals and medical practitioners. But despite constant follow-ups, quite a few of them still do not report their cases on time."
As for dengue, the city has registered 1,165 cases so far this year. Private hospitals reported 972 cases and government sentinel centers had 193. Cases have gone up since June.