Nagpur: The Second Capital of Maharashtra has achieved a dubious distinction on the health front. Chikungunya cases in Nagpur have surpassed 1,000 for the first time in the city’s history. As of October 18, Nagpur had recorded 1,012 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne viral illness, a sharp rise that outpaces the previous outbreak of 2006-07 when the city reported less than 800 cases.
What is particularly concerning is that 80% of these cases — around 810 — were reported in just the last three months, from August 1 to October 18. The rapid surge began in August, which saw 355 cases, followed by a peak in September with 402 cases. Though the numbers have decreased slightly, October has already recorded 137 cases in the first 19 days.
Today’s Rate
Mon 20 Oct. 2024
The test positivity rate also reflects the rising severity of the situation. In September, 24% of the tests conducted for chikungunya returned positive results. This figure climbed to 26% in the first half of October. According to doctors, this increase is partly due to more precise identification of symptoms.
According to an expert, doctors now have a better understanding of the disease and are asking only those with specific symptoms to undergo testing, leading to higher positivity rates.
Chikungunya, which was absent in Nagpur during the first five months of the year, started surfacing in June. Since then, the cases have risen steeply. Experts suggest that the slight decline in October can be attributed to reduced rainfall in the past two weeks, which limited mosquito breeding. However, with rains resuming from October 18 and more expected in the coming days, there is a concern that new breeding grounds will emerge, possibly leading to another spike in cases, said the expert.
Doctors have urged residents to take preventive measures, including eliminating stagnant water and using mosquito repellents.
Month-wise chikungunya cases in Nagpur:
· January — 0
· February — 0
· March – 0
· April — 0
· May — 0
· June – 30
· July – 88
· August — 355
· September — 402
· October (1-18) – 137
· Total — 1,012
Chikungunya (CHIKV) is a virus that spreads to people through mosquito bites — specifically, through the Aedes aegypti mosquito and Aedes albopictus mosquito. Chikungunya infection happens when a mosquito with the virus bites a person. The virus doesn’t spread from person to person through bodily contact or saliva, although blood transmission may be possible.
The virus causes symptoms like fever and joint pain, which can become severe. The name chikungunya means “bent over” due to the joint pain the illness is known to cause. There’s no medication to treat chikungunya. Treatment focuses on managing your symptoms. Most people recover from the illness in about one week, but some have lasting joint pain.
