While Pune grapples with the Zika virus, a more pressing issue has emerged this season – a surge in dengue cases that are causing severe symptoms and rapid declines in platelet counts. Unlike previous years, where a drop to 20,000 platelets was common, patients are now experiencing plummeting counts to as low as 5,000 within days of infection, raising significant concerns among health experts.
Dr. Rajesh Gadia, a national expert on vector-borne infections from KEM Hospital, expressed his worry to Pune Times Mirror, stating, “While attention is focused on Zika, dengue cases are quietly escalating. We’ve already admitted over 10 patients, with one in intensive care. Cases are widespread, especially in areas like Wagholi and Phaltan.”
Highlighting the severity of this year’s dengue cases, Dr. Gadia noted, “We are alarmed by the clinical presentations we’re seeing. Bleeding, a critical symptom this year, is occurring in a small percentage of cases.”
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) reported over 12 dengue cases recently, prompting Dr. Laxman Gophane, PCMC’s chief health officer, to emphasize their proactive approach in diagnosing and treating suspected cases to prevent any oversight.
Comparing dengue to Zika, which poses risks primarily to pregnant women due to potential fetal impacts, the PMC health department reiterated the greater immediate threat posed by dengue, despite Zika also being a concern.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) stressed the urgency of eliminating mosquito breeding sites to curb these infections in Pune, highlighting dehydration as a critical concern alongside falling platelet counts.
Dr. Devashish Desai, an infectious disease expert at Ruby Hall Clinic, underscored the need to monitor dehydration levels in dengue patients, alongside platelet counts, as a key indicator of disease severity.
Dr. Gadia differentiated between dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, all spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, noting chikungunya’s distinct symptom of prolonged joint pain compared to the similar presentations of dengue and Zika.
With two strains of dengue circulating this year and admissions rising, experts anticipate a peak in cases by September and October. Meanwhile, Zika cases in Pune reached 16, including eight involving pregnant women, underlining ongoing concerns despite the overshadowing dengue outbreak.
