Pune accounts for 38% of Maha's ILI & SARI cases
Dr Sachin Desai, Pune district health officer, said that the reason behind the large number of cases is the reporting in Pune district. 'All cases are regularly updated on the portal, and there is no underreporting of cases. However, no deaths have been reported amongst these infected patients,' he said.
According to health experts, the large number of cases is worrying and maybe linked to multiple factors such as climate variations, urban density, air quality, and delayed medical intervention.
Dr Abhijeet Lodha, physician at Ruby Hall Clinic, said that those with existing co-morbidities and the elderly should regularly take influenza vaccines and infected patients must follow hygiene and use face masks in public places.
'The spikes in respiratory illnesses are often aggravated during seasonal transitions and by rising pollution levels. The monsoon, with its damp and humid conditions, only worsens the situation,' Dr Lodha said.
As per data provided by the public health department, Pune district reported the highest number of ILI cases this year followed by Jalgaon with 18,435 cases and Ahilya Nagar with 9,903 cases. Similarly, Pune reported the highest number of SARI cases (597) followed by Solapur (31) and Nagpur (29).
A senior health official from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on request of anonymity said, 'The cases have gone up and the surge in cases can be attributed to the pollution and weather change. 'Many people from nearby districts like Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ahilya Nagar and Kolhapur also come for treatment to Pune which adds to the total number. Besides, there is more awareness among people coming forward to report if they have any symptoms.'
Dr Avdhut Bodamwad of Lopmudra Hospital said that more ILI and SARI cases are likely to be reported due to the onset of the monsoon and that citizens should take all precautionary measures and stay safe. 'During the monsoon, temperature variations take place and we can expect an increase in such cases. Considering the current situation in Pune, it is important to differentiate between Covid-19 positive patients and those who are not. Individuals at high risk should get tested immediately if they have any such symptoms and should not attribute it to weather change,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
13 hours ago
- India Today
What's Delhi's dog-bite reality that has alarmed the Supreme Court too
"My parents have stopped going for walks outside society due to aggressive dog gangs," a Delhi resident recently posted on social media, thanking the Supreme Court for stepping in after reports of a disturbing surge in rabies cases and deaths in the national July 28, the Supreme Court termed the rising number of dog-bite cases and deaths as "deeply disturbing", especially among children and the elderly. The bench, led by Justice JB Pardiwala, cited a recent Times of India report titled 'City hounded by strays, kids pay price', which documented the increasing menace of stray dogs and the failure of civic authorities to get the crisis under concern gained urgency after the death of a six-year-old girl, Chavi, after a dog attack. She was on her way to her aunt's house when a stray dog attacked her, biting her repeatedly on her leg, arm and being taken to multiple hospitals for treatment, her condition deteriorated. Less than a month later, she passed away. Her family recalls that she had started attending school just two days before the it a matter that required immediate judicial intervention, Justice Pardiwala remarked, "This is the first matter we should take up on the first day of the week."Taking suo motu cognisance, the Supreme Court ordered its registry to register a public interest writ petition under its own motion and directed that it be placed before Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai for further orders and threat posed by stray dogs is not just in Delhi. In cities like Bengaluru and Srinagar too, dog attacks have spread fear and panic. WHY DOG BITES CAN BE DANGEROUSDog bites can be dangerous for two main reasons: the physical trauma they cause and the risk of a small bite can tear skin, injure muscles or nerves, and lead to bacterial infections if not treated properly. But it is the threat of rabies that makes the situation far more is a viral disease that attacks the brain and nervous symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. The virus spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, usually via a bite. Because of this, doctors recommend immediate wound cleaning and post-exposure vaccination even in seemingly minor killed approximately 5,700 people in India in 2022-23, according to a Lancet OF DANGER: DATA ON DOG BITES IN DELHIThe scale of the crisis is stark in the numbers. Data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) shows that dog bite cases in Delhi rose from 6,691 in 2022 to 17,874 in 2023, and further to 25,210 in 2024. That's an overall increase of nearly 277% in just two surge continues into 2025, with 3,196 cases reported in January have been to data cited by The Indian Express, Safdarjung Hospital, one of the largest government-run centres, reported 63,361 dog bite cases in 2021. By July 2025, the number had already climbed to 91,009, surpassing the earlier annual figures by 43.6%.At Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, the cases rose from 39,216 between April 2022 and March 2023 to 45,432 between April 2023 and March 2025, marking a 13% MCD-run Bara Hindu Rao Hospital also saw a spike, with 4,861 cases till July this year, 40% higher than the 3,468 cases recorded in the same period last problem is not limited to Delhi. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district, which borders the capital, 74,550 animal bite incidents, including both stray and pet-related cases, were recorded between January and May this year ARE AUTHORITIES TACKLING THE DOG BITE DANGER?Authorities are attempting to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), along with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), has rolled out the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE), with the goal of eliminating rabies by Delhi, the Municipal Corporation has been working with NGOs and veterinary professionals to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) late 2022 and early 2024, over 1 lakh sterilisation procedures were carried out, against an annual target of 80,000-90, long-term aim is to achieve 70-80% sterilisation coverage in each ward, but progress remains uneven, with only some wards meeting the citizens, the MCD-311 app and the helpline number 155305 have been made available to report stray dog issues and request sterilisation drives. To build public trust, the system allows residents to receive updates and even photos of the dogs once action has been situation of stray dogs and attacks by them in Delhi are scary. With the civic authorities sleeping and people panicking, it is the Supreme Court that had to ultimately step in.- EndsTrending Reel
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
PMC conducts drill on preventing vector-borne diseases at hostel
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday conducted sessions on how to manage vector-borne diseases at the civic-run Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Boys Hostel on Ghole Road. The hostel inmates were also screened for symptoms of dengue or other mosquito-borne illnesses, said PMC officials. PMC officials said that the civic Insect Control department sprayed insecticides around the hostel campus. Out of the 58 hostel inmates, five students with symptoms such as fever and body ache were screened for dengue, which tested negative. (HT PHOTO) During last year's monsoon, the hostel had turned into a hotspot for vector-borne diseases, with two suspected deaths and 27 cases of dengue, and 13 cases of chikungunya. Thirty one students had to be admitted to Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital. To prevent such a scenario, pre-emptive measures are being taken this year. PMC officials said that the civic Insect Control department sprayed insecticides around the hostel campus. Out of the 58 hostel inmates, five students with symptoms such as fever and body ache were screened for dengue, which tested negative. 'The hostel activities were part of a bigger awareness campaign launched to update citizens on mosquito identification, breeding, and preventive measures,' said Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health chief of PMC. The civic health team also conducted a health check-up of the students and requested them to immediately visit PMC-run hospitals for any health issue, and avoid self-medication. Dr Dighe added, 'The hostel staff were informed to regularly drain water collected behind refrigerators, in plant pots, on terraces, and use plastic sheets or tin roofs in parking areas to prevent mosquito breeding. We have also instructed ward officials to conduct regular spraying of insecticides and fogging at the hostel campus.'
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Prayagraj plans largest animal birth control, anti-rabies drive
Sangam city is set to launch its largest-ever animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) drive to tackle the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas. Newly constructed Animal Birth Control Centre in Rasulabad area of Prayagraj . (HT PHOTO) From high-end colonies to densely populated localities, the stray dog issue has become a daily concern for residents. Municipal authorities admit a steady rise in dog bite cases and road accidents involving stray animals, heightening public concern—especially children and senior citizens. According to some estimates, more than 700 dog bite cases occur daily within the city limits of Prayagraj alone. New infrastructure to support ABC-ARV efforts In a proactive move, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set up an Animal Birth Control Centre in Rasulabad. A second facility in the same area has recently been completed and is scheduled to begin sterilization and vaccination operations starting August, said officials. Constructed by the Construction and Design Services (C&DS) wing of Jal Nigam at a cost of ₹1.85 crore, the new center includes modern amenities such as an operation theatre, pet salon, kennels, community kitchen, park, pet shop, office, preparation room, dormitory, and pantry. 'The center is capable of sterilising up to 32 animals per day,' said Rohit Kumar Rana, project manager, C&DS. Targeting 75% of stray dog population As part of its broader strategy, PMC is initiating a citywide ABC-ARV campaign, aiming to cover 75% of the estimated 1.13 lakh stray dogs in the next six years. The municipal corporation has already started the tendering process through a Request for Proposal (RFP) to bring onboard a qualified agency or NGO to implement the project. 'This initiative is critical to ensure the safety and well-being of city residents,' said Dr Vijay Amritraj, veterinary and animal welfare officer, PMC. 'We plan to sterilise and vaccinate the stray dog population in a phased and systematic manner.' Annual goals and standards To meet the programme's objectives, around 18,000 surgeries will need to be performed annually within PMC limits, including providing adequate post-operative care. All procedures will follow standards prescribed by the Animal Welfare Board of India. As of now, 4,540 dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated in Prayagraj, according to municipal data. Role of implementing agency The selected agency or NGO will be required to deploy: At least two qualified veterinary doctors (each with experience in 500+ ABC-ARV surgeries), four paravets, four dog catchers and drivers for designated dog vans. While PMC will provide the dog vans, the operating agency will bear all operational, maintenance, fuel, repair, and wage costs. All dog bite cases must be reported to the nearest government hospital. The implementing agency must also maintain a mortality rate below 0.5%, with evaluations conducted after every 500 surgeries, said officials.
