Nagpur: The number of people who have tested positive for dengue till September is more than the numbers in the last two years. The numbers are likely to increase with over two months remaining in the year and the results of cases registered in the first 12 days of October yet to be taken into account. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), however, expects the numbers to reduce as winter is about to set in.As per the NMC’s records, as many as 3,159 people tested positive in private hospitals and laboratories through rapid diagnostic kit (RDK) test till October 10 this year. Those tested positive by the NMC through its enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test is 200.Sources say that the number of cases is always higher than those registered with the NMC as some of the private hospitals and government medical college and hospitals do not report positive cases to the civic body.In 2016, NMC had recorded 195 positive cases. The number was 199 in 2017. In 2015 it was 230 and in 2012 it was 231. The highest so far was in 2014 with 601 with 352 in 2013 being the next.As per the NMC data, no one has died due to dengue this year. The death of a 10-year-old kid due to dengue on September 15 was not registered with the NMC as the patient was admitted to GMCH which does not report to the civic body. The death is likely to be registered with state public health department.A majority of dengue cases have been observed between August and September. As many as 1,687 cases, which is the highest in this period, were registered in September, of which 109 were tested positive though NMC’s ELISA test. 69 of 921 cases were tested positive in August. The results of 422 cases registered by NMC till October 10 are awaited.The surge in dengue cases shows that the NMC has failed to take adequate preventive measures. It also means that people are not aware about the disease. Mosquitos — Aedes aegypti — which causes dengue thrive in stagnant water.The NMC malaria and filaria officer Jayshree Thote told TOI that cases would come down from this month. “Rain water has dried up due to hot weather in last few days. Winter is also about to set in. The NMC is continuously creating awareness among people. Household inspections are also under way. People’s cooperation is must to contain this vector-borne disease,” she said.

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