Pune: The city is seeing an unsettling surge in typhoid and other intestinal infections this year, with doctors warning that the actual scale of the outbreak might be far greater than suggested by official figures.According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) data, 38 cases of enteric fever (typhoid) were recorded till June 24. But infectious disease specialists said the numbers likely represented only the tip of the iceberg, with many patients going unreported or escaping confirmation through standard diagnostic tests.The rise has been gradual, but relentless. PMC records showed typhoid cases climbing from 10 in Jan and 12 in Feb to 17 in April, 19 in May, and then 38 by June 24. Acute diarrhoeal disease has also maintained a worrying presence, with 840 cases between June 1 and 24 alone, and 5,071 patients recorded since the beginning of the year.Doctors on the ground said those figures failed to capture the true burden unfolding across health hubs. “It is not just typhoid. We are seeing a sharp rise in intestinal infections causing diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and related gastrointestinal infections. Many patients are sicker than usual,” Dr Piyush Chaudhary of Jehangir Hospital said.Typically, such infections peak between second half of April and early June, driven by water shortages, increased consumption of outside food and beverages, and a higher risk of contamination. “This year, however, the trend has taken a more serious turn, with a growing number of patients requiring hospitalisation,” he said.Water quality concerns have emerged as a recurring theme. Doctors are reporting clusters of cases from localities including Wakad, Hinjewadi (Phases 1-3), Vishrantwadi and several suburban pockets where residents often depend on wells, private tankers or other non-municipal water sources. The concerns have revived memories of last year’s Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) outbreak, which investigators linked to contaminated water supplies in the peripheral areas.At Noble Hospital, infectious disease specialist Dr Ameet Dravid said typhoid cases had risen sharply over the past six weeks, particularly in Hadapsar. Summer travel and frequent dining out might be contributing factors, he said, but under-reporting remained a significant issue. “Official data largely captures blood culture-positive cases, whereas many patients are diagnosed clinically and treated before laboratory confirmation,” Dr Dravid said, adding, “In my own practice, I saw around 50 typhoid patients during May and June.”Children, too, are increasingly falling ill. Dr Amita Kaul of Surya Mother and Child Super Specialty Hospital said paediatric gastrointestinal infections had seen a marked rise, especially in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. Cases of dysentery and colitis are becoming more common, with children presenting severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, loose motions and, in some cases, blood in stools.“We see around 250 to 300 gastroenteritis cases every month. One to two children require admission daily,” she said.Health experts said the current monsoon pattern — minimal day-night temperature gap, persistent cloud cover and very high humidity — has created favourable conditions for seasonal viral spread. They said sustained humidity and dampness could help some viruses persist longer on surfaces and in the environment, increasing the risk of respiratory and other seasonal infections, especially among children and those with weakened immunity.
