Vector-borne diseases dengue and chikungunya have crossed the 200-mark in Patna and the first suspected dengue death case has been reported, prompting residents to exercise bit more caution.

Talking about the first suspected dengue death, Ragini Mishra, the state epidemiologist at State Health Society Bihar said: 'Eight-year-old Ruby Kumari had tested positive for dengue and died at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on September 23. Doctors at SKMCH have orally cited brain meningitis as the reason of death.

'Her dengue was revealed at Patna's Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences on September 8. which conducted Elisa test on the patient which is considered confirmatory test of dengue by state health authorities. The RMRIMS had sent us the report of the girl on September 9. SKMCH authorities had sent the samples of the girl to RMRIMS owing to which the dengue status of the patient was revealed. As of now, a detailed death report of Ruby Kumari has been sought by the district health society, Muzaffarpur from SKMCH that what is the actual reason behind Ruby's death.'

Health authorities said not a single dengue death case has been reported across the state in last two years.

The State Health Society's office has confirmed 235 Chikungunya cases in state capital and majority of the cases have been found from localities including Patna City, Kankerbagh, Lodhipur among others.

According to State Health Society's data, the total number of dengue cases in state stand at 549 while that of Chikungunya's state figure stand at 279.

As per health authorities, the cases of dengue is likely to increase in the coming days due to festival round the corner.

'The migrants number is likely to rise due to festivals (including Diwali and Chhath) round the corner, which can increase infections further in the state. Increase in the migrants number during Durga puja already showcases rise in dengue cases as 102 cases were confirmed alone in Patna on September 27. Before that, 40 and 35 confirmed cases were detected in each day. So residents have to take more precautions in these conditions,' added Ragini. She said that instructions had been issued to the authorities concerned to conduct both fogging and larvicide treatment in the dengue and Chikungunya prone areas wherein cases of both vector-borne diseases have been reported.

According to experts, dengue cases are likely to drop once the winter sets in. 'The breeding rate of the Aedes Eygypti mosquito, which carries the virus, is usually higher in the hot and humid weather than cold weather conditions. In winter season, dengue cases go down also because of less humidity in weather and very few possibility of fresh water accumulation. Till then residents have to take all measures to prevent themselves from infection,' said a doctor of Patna Medical College and Hospital wishing anonymity.