Pune dengue cases near last year's total; PMC chief Naval Kishore Ram reviews Naidu Hospital readiness

Pune, October 24, 2026: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Saturday visited the newly built Dr Naidu Hospital in Baner and took stock of the dengue situation in the city. He said there are enough beds and medicines for treatment, so people should not panic.

According to PMC data, 2,291 dengue cases were recorded in the city from January 1 to October 20, 2026. There were 4,908 cases in 2024 and 2,391 in 2025. This year's count has thus come close to the total for all of last year.

During the visit, Ram reviewed the dengue situation, bed availability in hospitals, treatment facilities and measures to stop mosquitoes from breeding. He asked the health, construction, anti-encroachment and solid waste management departments to coordinate and step up preventive work. The administration is focusing on places where water collects and mosquitoes can breed, namely construction sites, garbage dumping spots and encroached areas.

According to PMC, private hospitals in Pune have 4,409 beds for dengue treatment, including 670 intensive care unit (ICU) beds. PMC hospitals have 333 beds, including six ICU beds. In all, 4,742 beds are available. On average, about 50 per cent of beds are vacant, and PMC has asked patients not to insist on treatment at only a few large hospitals.

Dr Naidu Hospital has set aside 50 beds for dengue patients. The administration said 10 to 15 of them are occupied daily and about 35 are vacant. Treatment here is free. Officials have been directed to ensure that patients with severe symptoms get immediate treatment at Dr Naidu Hospital and Kamla Nehru Hospital. Mosquito nets have been made mandatory in all dengue wards. Ram asked people to see a doctor as soon as dengue symptoms appear and to go to the nearest municipal or other hospital.

In the mosquito surveillance and prevention drive, PMC teams have visited about 14 lakh homes and inspected 28,31,386 containers and water-storage spots. Larvae of Aedes mosquitoes were found in 18,885 containers in 13,000 homes. Notices were issued to 2,664 properties for violations, and fines of Rs 6.30 lakh were collected. The Aedes mosquito spreads dengue and generally breeds in stagnant water collected in items such as containers.

The administration listed the reasons mosquitoes are breeding: the changing weather, increasing construction, water storage because of water cuts, and stagnant water in pots and trays of indoor plants and terrace gardens.

For testing, PMC has stocked rapid diagnostic kits (RDK) at all its dispensaries, and dengue tests with them are free. Confirmatory tests are also free at designated sentinel centres such as Dr Naidu Hospital, Dr Kotnis Hospital and Kamla Nehru Hospital, where serum samples can be sent. All government and private hospitals have been told to enter dengue patients on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal and avoid duplicate entries, so that the count of cases stays accurate.

Insecticide spraying and other preventive work are being prioritised where more dengue cases are coming in. Officials have been told not to spray needlessly in open areas and to follow the set fogging protocol. The focus will be on the patient's home and enclosed areas around it, and fogging will be carried out for an appropriate period. Biological larvicides will also be added to stored water, especially in areas where people store water during periods of low supply.

The awareness campaign has also been stepped up. Messages are being carried through digital displays at railway stations, radio and audio messages played on garbage collection vehicles. The audio clips are played daily, and audio pen drives have been given to all 15 ward offices. The administration is asking office-bearers of housing societies to keep terraces and water tanks clean. Schools have been asked to hold essay and drawing competitions to explain dengue prevention to children. People are urged to observe one dry day a week, emptying and cleaning water containers.

PMC has asked people not to let water collect around their homes, to keep water tanks covered and to cooperate with inspection teams. People with symptoms have been asked to consult a doctor and get timely treatment. For recovery, full rest, fresh and nutritious food and plenty of fluids are advised. The administration said that stopping the spread of dengue in Pune will require joint action by municipal departments and public cooperation.