50% Positivity Rate in City’s Dengue Samples: NIV

Scientists from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) have found that 50% of around 100 samples from the city tested positive for dengue fever.

Dengue virus has four types, and the most common one found now is Dengue-2, according to NIV.

Dr. Anuradha Tripathy, who leads the dengue and chikungunya department at NIV, said, “Every year, we get 4,000-5,000 samples to test for dengue and chikungunya from places like Pune, Goa, Telangana, UP, and Bihar. In June, we received about 100 samples, and at least half of them tested positive for dengue.”

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department reported 487 suspected dengue cases this year, with 157 cases in June alone. Out of these, ten cases have been confirmed as positive. Health officials have issued notices to 788 societies, construction sites, and other places where mosquitoes breed. They have also collected an administrative fee of Rs 18.5 lakh so far.

Doctors in private clinics and hospitals have also noticed an increase in cases that look like Zika virus, dengue, and chikungunya. Since the symptoms are similar, doctors are using clinical exams and tests to tell them apart.

Dr. Rajesh Gadia, a consulting physician at KEM hospital, mentioned that they recently tested a patient with Zika-like symptoms. “The woman had a fever and rash, but her sample was sent on the eighth day, and she tested negative for Zika virus,” he said.

Experts say that a positive NS1 test shows a dengue infection. When combined with the IgM antibody test, it usually gives a diagnosis in the first week of illness. Dr. Gadia also emphasized the importance of checking platelet counts in dengue patients.

There are also tests for chikungunya, which causes high fever and severe joint pain that can last for months. If dengue and chikungunya are ruled out, samples can be sent to public labs to check for Zika-like infections.

Dr. Amit Dravid, an infectious diseases consultant at Noble hospital, said that the tropical fever panel test is used to diagnose diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and malaria. “We have seen an increase in dengue and chikungunya cases, with about 10-15 cases reported in one week,” Dr. Dravid said. However, these tests are costly, ranging from Rs 5,000 to 7,000.

Officials from the PMC health department have urged people to reduce mosquito breeding sites by emptying and cleaning water containers weekly, disposing of waste properly, and supporting local mosquito control programs.