Dengue & chikungunya cases rise in Nashik rural times of India

 NASHIK: The rural parts of Nashik district have seen a continuous rise in dengue and chikungunya cases over the past few weeks, prompting the health department to take up various vector control measures.

Health officials said there were 125 cases of chikungunya in the rural parts of the district by July-end , which increased by another 29 by August 10. Similarly, cases of dengue which stood at 65 by July-end increased by 19 by August 10.

Chikungunya and dengue are both transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in fresh accumulated water. Senior officials of the district malaria office said that various measures were being taken to control the spread of the two diseases.

District Malaria officer Madhav Ahire said that June and July both saw a sharp rise in dengue and chikungunya in the district. Dengue cases were more in Nashik taluka, followed by Sinnar, Dindori and Peth.

Meanwhile, chikungunya cases were also more in Peth taluka followed Nashik, Sinnar and Trimbak talukas.

Health workers attached to the primary health centres were conducting survey of ailing patients and asking them to get their blood tests conducted at the PHCs. Also, awareness activities were being done among villagers not store water in their houses for too long, which could lead to breeding of mosquitoes