Five dengue deaths in two months

Meanwhile,the positive cases were also climbing. In October,the state diagnostic laboratory at Sassoon received 367 blood samples from patients in Pune as well from other places to run blood tests. Dr D B Kadam,head of Department of Medicine said these samples were from Pune and other areas.

Of these,79 tested positive for dengue,40 for chikungunya and 26 for leptospirosis.

PMC health officials reported four deaths city hospitals in two months. One was from Kothrud who died at Sassoon,another was from Kothrud who died at Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital. One was from Hingnekhurd and died at Poona hospital and another died at Samarth hospital.

“We have yet to receive the latest information about another death from Sassoon general hospital,” Dr S T Pardeshi,acting chief medical officer,PMC said.

Taking into account one of the deaths in October as a patient from Hadapsar,the toll in the city stands at five. “Both the deaths in October were of patients from Kothrud and Hadapsar,” Dr D G Kulkarni,medical superintendent,told Newsline requesting that names of the patients be not disclosed.

Dr Vaishali Jadhav,who is in charge of the insect control department at PMC said that from January to October,259 dengue cases were reported in city hospitals. Since August,440 cases were reported in PMC,PCMC and Pune rural areas,Jadhav said.

A meeting was on Wednesday held with doctors to stress the importance of reporting all dengue cases to the municipal health authorities.

‘Marginal rise in seropositive dengue cases’

“There has been a marginal increase in sero-positive dengue cases this year,” state Additional Chief Secretary (Health) TC Benjamin said on Wednesday.

This year 931 cases (out of 8,370 samples) tested positive in the state for dengue and there were 34 deaths,against 814 positive cases (out of 6,813 samples) and 21 deaths in 201. So far 123 lakh homes have been inspected and 45 lakh containers examined. “We are stepping up disease surveillance and roping in private practitioners in a big way to report cases. An entomological survey for the vector is also being carried out,” Benjamin said and urged people to empty and thoroughly clean containers once a week to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

“Instructions have been issued to municipal commissioners,collectors and CEOs of hospitals to hold meetings on dengue control.”