Patna: Dengue cases in the state capital continue to climb, with 23 new cases reported on Thursday and 35 on Friday. According to official data, Patna has recorded 624 dengue cases so far this year, out of which 339 were reported in September alone. Health officials said infections are now being reported from nearly all neighborhoods of the city.
‘Dengue to Peak Until October’
Civil Surgeon Dr. Avinash Kumar Singh said that dengue cases are likely to peak until October. He advised residents to focus on preventive measures, especially eliminating mosquito breeding sites. “The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in clean water and is most active during the day. People must avoid water stagnation inside and around homes and use protection to prevent mosquito bites,” he said.
Dengue has four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4). While infection from one serotype provides lifelong immunity against it, people remain vulnerable to the other three, leaving a risk of reinfection.
375 Teams Deployed Across 75 Wards
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) claimed that regular fogging and anti-larvae spraying drives are underway to control the outbreak. Bankipur has emerged as the most affected area, with 24 hotspots identified across six municipal zones.
PMC has formed 375 teams for 75 wards, with each ward assigned five teams consisting of two members each. These teams are spraying anti-larvae solutions in 10,000 homes and public areas daily, operating in two shifts. Temephos is being used for anti-larvae spraying and Malathion for fogging.
Eight Wards Identified as High-Risk
Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said that eight wards have been marked as dengue-affected, where 10 teams have been specially deployed. Additional staff have been assigned to areas with waterlogging complaints.
He added that under-construction buildings and sites with stagnant water are being closely monitored. “The situation is under control this year compared to last year. Our teams will continue to work rigorously to prevent further spread,” he said.
Special Focus on Hospitals
PMC receives daily line lists of dengue patients and is conducting special fogging within a 500-meter radius of their homes. A dedicated team of 25 personnel has also been deployed at major hospitals, including PMCH, NMCH, AIIMS, IGIMS, IGIC, Gardner, and Rajvanshi Nagar Hospital, to carry out regular spraying and fogging.
Public Complaints and Feedback
Each ward team is required to spray anti-larvae solutions in 50 houses daily and collect resident feedback in registers. In addition, PMC has set up a toll-free number (155304) where residents can register complaints related to fogging and spraying. A special response team is deployed daily to attend to areas where complaints are received.
