Dengue cases drop in Nashik city in Jan–May compared to last year; NMC ramps up pre-monsoon drive

Nashik: The city has recorded a sharp decline in dengue incidents in the Jan–May 2026 period, with only 14 cases reported compared to 122 during the same period last year.Even as the numbers showed improvement, Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) intensified its pre-monsoon preparedness with a citywide anti-dengue and anti-malaria drive.As per instructions of municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri, the medical and health department of NMC has deployed 62 dedicated dengue prevention teams to carry out door-to-door inspections, larval detection, fogging and awareness campaigns. Special focus is being placed on identified hotspots, areas with previous clusters, and locations prone to water stagnation, said civic officials.In April 2026 alone, around 1.94 lakh households were surveyed, with mosquito larvae detected in 951 homes. A total of 2.28 lakh water sources were inspected, of which 1,404 were found to have larval presence, civic officials claimed.NMC has stepped up measures such as fogging and spraying at 38,551 locations, emptying 1,115 water sources, applying larvicides at 289 sites and releasing guppy fish at 674 locations to control mosquito breeding.Particular attention is being paid to vacant plots, construction sites, basements, scrap yards, tyre shops and overhead water tanks. The civic body has also warned of penal action for non-compliance with norms.“Preventive measures are being intensified ahead of the monsoon. Citizens should actively participate and strictly follow civic guidelines,” said civic chief Khatri.The NMC health department has also appealed to city residents to take precautions like cleaning and drying water storage containers like tanks or overhead tanks at least once a week, covering all household water containers so that mosquito breeding spots are not created, etc. The department has also appealed to the relevant authorities to keep school and office premises clean, wear covered clothing and approach nearby hospitals in case of fever for medication, among other recommendations.