With 18 people succumbing to dengue in Maharashtra this year including three from the metropolis,the state government has issued directives to authorities to take preventive measures to stop its spread.

According to officials in the health department, 762 persons tested positive from January to September 2012 for the disease.

As many as 139 localities especially in urban and semi- urban areas were affected. There were 7,608 suspected cases and 6,195 serum samples were examined.

The most affected was Mumbai where 504 patients tested positive and three deaths were reported. Whereas in Kolhapur district, there were 35 positive cases out of which
two deaths were reported. Raigad district saw 26 positive cases and one death.

Nashik district reported 16 positive cases and two deaths. Pimpri Chinchwad reported 22 positive cases and one death. Kalyan saw four positive cases and two deaths. Mira Bhayander reported two cases and both were fatal. While in Bhiwandi, there was one case reported and the patient died. In Pune, there were 12 cases and in Thane five.

In Washim, Amravati and Buldhana districts, one death each was reported. In Malegaon, there was one death.

In 2011, 280 localities were affected and there were 9180 suspected cases. As many as 5931 serum samples were tested out of which 1138 were tested positive. Last year 25 deaths were reported.

District and civic officials have been told to spread awareness about cleanliness and urge people not to store water in large utensils for many days.

Fogging is being done in areas affected by the outbreak in rural and urban areas, officials informed.

According to them, prevalence of dengue is more in urban areas because of the tendency to store water.

Health awareness campaign includes asking people to report incidence of fever to the authorities.