Pune: Mosquito breeding increases during and after the monsoon so do cases of chikungunya. According to data furnished by the PMC Health Department, in August alone, 70 patients tested positive for chikungunya while in July, 54 tested positive in the city.
Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes and in most cases the patients suffer from joint pain. Though it is not a fatal disease, joint pain in many patients can last up to six to eight months. The statistics provided by the Health Department of the PMC shows that the number of patients in January and June this year were as low as six each. In February, the number was five whereas in March and May only one patient was reported ill due to chikungunya. In April, there were no patients who fell sick because of the disease.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Sudhir Patsute from Naidu Hospital said that with dengue, chikungunya cases also tend to increase.
“Mostly, both diseases are caused by mosquitoes, which breed faster during and after monsoon. The primary symptoms of chikungunya is fever and after three to four days there is joint pain in patients. This joint pain can affect patients for six to eight months,” said Dr Patsute. He said many patients experience joint pain, if they also suffer from other diseases.
“For example, after recovering from chikungunya, if a patient suffers from flu, the joint pain is back. We advise such patients to keep moving as it helps. Also, joints that are used more frequently pain more during chikungunya. So, it affects the professional life of a patient,” said Dr Patsute.
Underlining the importance of spreading awareness about chikungunya, Dr Vaishali Jadhav from the Health Department of the PMC said more such campaigns are taken to spread the word. “There are also initiatives to check mosquito breeding as these spots are the major reason behind increase in chikungunya cases. Due to rampant construction and stagnant water, breeding spots tend to increase. The only solution is to keep surroundings clean and spread the word and take proper treatment if any patient is tested positive,” said Dr Jadhav.
