Pune: PMC Reports Decline In Dengue Cases; Experts Highlight Gaps In Reporting And Data Access

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce a significant drop in vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria in the city this year.

According to data shared by the civic body, from January to June 2025, only 8 cases each of dengue and chikungunya have been reported, with zero cases of malaria. In comparison, the entire year of 2024 saw 382 cases of dengue, 483 cases of chikungunya, and 5 cases of malaria.

The PMC credited the sharp decline to ongoing mosquito control campaigns, public awareness drives, and timely sanitation efforts across the city.

PMC says credits city-wide campaigns

Dr. Rajesh Dighe, Assistant Health Officer and Head of the Vector-Borne Diseases Control Programme at PMC, told FPJ, "We are working to standardize case reporting between rural and urban areas. Patients from areas like Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Cantonment Board visit municipal hospitals, making it challenging to track micro-level data, as treatment is prioritized over data management."

Dighe reported eight confirmed cases of dengue and chikungunya in the city in June but refrained from disclosing the number of suspected cases, noting that data is being verified by cross-referencing online reports with physical data from hospitals and clinics.

He highlighted a decline in reported dengue cases this year compared to last year, crediting city-wide PMC campaigns focused on mosquito eradication and public awareness of vector-borne diseases.

Approximately 4,500 diagnostic centers in and around Pune, including labs and hospitals, provide comprehensive dengue testing.

Dighe added that a tender for an ELISA reader and washer machine for testing dengue and chikungunya at Kamala Nehru Hospital has been finalized, with the equipment expected to be operational soon.

Experts Highlight Gaps In Reporting And Data Access

Although PMC claimed the feat, climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll, from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, noted that while the PMC was transparent, there are lags in case reporting and inconsistencies in geotagging, which required cleaning for accurate modeling.

He expressed hope that the PMC would provide extended data for the past five years, including weekly dengue cases, to improve research, noting that this has not yet happened.

A general physician on SB Road, requesting anonymity, noted, "There is a communication gap between clinics and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and many laboratories rely on a single diagnostic marker. The use of kits with varying performance characteristics may contribute to inaccuracies in reporting dengue cases."

"During dengue infection, NS1 is the earliest seromarker, followed by IgM antibodies. Patients testing positive for either NS1, IgM, or both are diagnosed with dengue. Although the PMC mandates both NS1 and IgM tests for accurate diagnosis, reliance on a single marker hampers the identification of actual dengue cases," according to the physician.

If only NS1 or IgM were used, 25.5% or 43% of confirmed dengue cases, respectively, would be missed, leading to significant underreporting.

Underreporting of cases

Supporting this, Roxy Mathew stated, "Dengue is heavily underreported due to asymptomatic cases, lack of diagnostics, and inconsistent reporting. One national estimate suggests actual cases are over 280 times the reported figures."

Mathew added, "The lack of granular health data hampers our ability to build accurate early warning systems. Sharing district-level health data is essential for tailoring predictions and enabling timely interventions. The PMC can digitize case reporting at hospital and clinic levels with mandatory real-time uploads, integrate vector surveillance data, and establish unified dashboards linking climate and health parameters. AI tools can flag hotspots in advance, enabling dynamic resource allocation."

Mathew has written a paper titled, "Dengue Dynamics, Predictions, and Future Increase under the Changing Monsoon Climate in India."

Mathew emphasized the disproportionate impact of vector-borne diseases on communities from different socioeconomic strata. "Low-income communities often lack proper housing, water storage, and waste management, increasing mosquito breeding risks. These communities also have limited access to healthcare and diagnostics, leading to delayed treatment and underreporting. We need ward-wise health data to clearly delineate these impacts," he added.