Patna: Watch out for the sting as you enjoy the rains.

State Health Society epidemiologist Ragini Mishra on Sunday asked city residents to be cautious about dengue now that the monsoon is in full swing.

Seven cases of dengue have been reported in Patna this year, but those were in May-June "and not related to this monsoon season," said Ragini.

She, however, added that the number of dengue cases is likely to increase as the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus, breeds in clean, stagnant water and such conditions flourish during the monsoon.

And that the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is present in the city is evident from earlier dengue cases, she pointed out.

"During the rains vector-borne disease incidences increase because of stagnation of water (such as waterlogging, rainwater in old tyres and coconut shells and other such places).

"There is a possibility that such cases might increase because of rainfall," Ragini said.

She added: "Last year, there was a spurt in dengue cases from the last week of August. We are expecting a surge around the same time this year as well. Residents should take precautions."

Asked what precautions, she said people should wear full-sleeved clothes, use mosquito nets while sleeping, avoid visiting waterlogged areas, and get larvae treatment done in case there is stagnant water in their area.

Residents can call the district malaria office at 7070519094 for getting anti-larvae treatment done in their locality.

According to State Health Society figures, last year 2,384 cases of dengue (confirmed through Elisa and rapid diagnostic tests) had been reported from Bihar till mid-November.

Of those case, 1,636 were from the state capital.