Patna: Patna is witnessing a sharp rise in dengue cases as monsoon rains create breeding grounds for mosquitoes across the city. According to health officials, 23 new cases were reported on Thursday and 35 on Friday, taking the total number of infections this year to 624. Of these, 339 cases have been recorded in September alone.
Civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh warned that the outbreak is likely to peak in October. “The only effective way to stop dengue is to prevent mosquito breeding and protect yourself from bites,” he said, urging residents not to allow water to accumulate in and around their homes. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, breeds in clean water and is most active during the day.
Doctors have also cautioned that dengue carries a risk of reinfection, as there are four distinct serotypes of the virus. Immunity to one serotype does not prevent infection by the others.
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a large-scale drive to contain the spread. Municipal commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said 375 teams have been deployed across 75 wards, with five teams assigned to each ward. The teams, each consisting of two members, are carrying out fogging and spraying of anti-larval chemicals such as temephos and malathion in public areas and about 10,000 homes every day.
Eight wards have been officially designated as dengue-affected, while 24 locations across six zones have been marked as hotspots. Bankipur is currently the worst-hit locality. “Additional teams have been deployed in areas with waterlogging and high complaints. Compared to last year, the situation is under control, but we are intensifying our efforts,” Parashar said.
Fogging and spraying are being conducted in two shifts daily, with special focus on stagnant water at construction sites and other risk-prone areas. The PMC also receives daily patient lists from the health department and conducts targeted spraying within a 500-metre radius of reported cases.
Hospitals across the city, including PMCH, NMCH, AIIMS, IGIMS and Gardiner Hospital, have been placed under a special sanitation watch, with a 25-member team assigned exclusively for anti-larval work in medical facilities.
Residents can register complaints or request spraying through a toll-free helpline, 155304. Officials said that feedback is being collected from households after spraying, and special teams have been tasked with responding to complaints in affected areas.
