Pune sees uptick in dengue cases this December

PUNE: Warmer-than-usual December is proving to be an ideal ground for mosquito breeding, sending dengue cases surging across the Pune municipal limits around this time of the year, when the vector-borne infections normally record a declining trend owing to the cold weather conditions and low humidity.
As per the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), a total of 40 confirmed dengue cases have been recorded in the civic limits till December 28. In comparison, 99 confirmed patients were recorded in November (see box).
Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant health officer, PMC, said, "Usually, we report an average of 30 cases of dengue during December. This year, however, there is an uptick in the number of patients as the weather is warmer than usual. The highest number of dengue cases usually come during October when the heat and humidity provide for an ideal weather for mosquitoes to breed."
The PMC areas also reported two confirmed cases of Chikungunya in November this year. "Adult mosquitoes usually turn inactive with the onset of winter and enter the hibernation state. Generally, a warmer and more humid setting allows the mosquitoes to develop faster. This is why mosquito activity peaks in the spring and summer seasons," a health expert said.
Dr Sujata Rege, the infectious diseases expert at Bharati Hospital, said, climate change has a big role to play in the surge in dengue cases this December. "The temperatures this year are not normal for the month. We are also seeing severe symptoms like acute liver failure in patients with no alcohol abuse history. We are also seeing inflammation in brain tissues, or heart muscles in dengue cases."
This December has emerged as one of the warmest for the city in the past 10 years, with higher-than-usual day and night temperatures making the month feel like March. December has so far reported an average minimum temperature of over 17 °C, showed the data provided by the Met department.
Dr Amit Dravid, infectious diseases expert at Noble hospital, said, "We are definitely seeing more number of dengue cases in December, which are more severe too. We can blame this on climate change and poor urban planning. The situation is just getting worse and if this repeats next year as well, we can call it a pattern."
He added, "Those landing in the ICU due to dengue infections are mainly senior citizens or those who are from a lower socio-economic background."
Dr Avdhut Bodamwad, director at Lopmudra Hospital, said, "We are surely seeing a rise in dengue cases this month, which is unusual if compared to the last two years of Covid-19 pandemic or even the years before that. The change in the atmosphere could have led to this. The number of dengue cases coming from Pune and its surrounding areas is more because the temperatures are higher-than-usual this winter."