Pune’s municipal health department has intensified dengue-control measures after an eight-year-old girl reportedly died during treatment following a serious dengue infection, prompting pressure from elected representatives over the city’s rising dengue cases.
The Pune civic administration has begun searching for mosquito-breeding sites, carrying out smoke and biological insecticide spraying, and speeding up testing and treatment arrangements for suspected patients. It has also released area-wise contact numbers for officers so residents can report locations where mosquito larvae are found.
The measures were discussed after councillors confronted the civic administration over the increase in dengue cases in the city. Some public representatives warned that they would hold a protest on the Pune Municipal Corporation premises if effective preventive action was not taken immediately.
According to the report, the health department is combining field-level mosquito-control work with medical preparedness. Officials are conducting inspections to identify breeding sites, while civic hospitals and dispensaries are providing testing facilities for dengue and malaria free of cost. Information on reserved beds in municipal hospitals is also being made available as part of the response.
The department’s actions are aimed at reducing the conditions in which Aedes mosquitoes can breed. Residents have been asked not to allow water to stagnate and to cooperate with the municipal pest-control campaign. The health department has also urged citizens to contact the relevant area officer promptly if they find mosquito larvae or potential breeding sites near their homes or neighbourhoods.
Health chief Dr Neena Borade advised residents to maintain cleanliness and prevent water accumulation. The civic health department said people experiencing fever, chills or rashes should seek immediate examination at a municipal dispensary or hospital rather than delay testing.
The municipal response follows renewed attention to dengue surveillance after the reported death and the concerns raised by councillors. The immediate civic focus remains on locating breeding sites, conducting spraying operations, expanding access to diagnostic services and communicating the availability of hospital beds and local response officers.
