PATNA, Nov. 3 -- Patna has seen a sharp surge in dengue infections, recording 370 cases across September and October. According to health department data updated on November 2, these two months alone account for nearly 68% of the 541 total cases reported in the district this year. October accounted for 200 cases, up from 170 in September and 97 in August. The sharp rise came despite the overall number of infections remaining significantly lower than in previous years. Three dengue-positive patients were admitted to private hospitals in Patna as of November 2, including one in an intensive care unit (ICU), according to the department's hospitalisation report. All three were being treated at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital. One new admission was reported on November 2. No dengue-related deaths have been recorded in the district this year. "The district recorded 541 dengue cases between January 1 and November 2 this year, against 1,426 during the corresponding period last year - a decline of 62.06%," said Vivek Kumar Singh, Patna's district programme manager of the state's health department. No fresh case was reported on November 2. The monthly figures show a clear concentration of infections towards the end of the monsoon and the post-monsoon period. "Patna reported 44 cases between January and June, followed by 26 in July, 97 in August, 170 in September and 200 in October. Four cases were reported on November 1," added Singh. The trend underscores the seasonal risk posed by mosquito breeding during and after the monsoon. Stagnant water in residential areas, construction sites and other localities can provide breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, officials said. The Patliputra circle emerged as the biggest hotspot, with 137 cases, followed by Kankarbagh with 68 and Ajimabad with 56. Bankipur reported 42 cases, Nutan Rajdhani 39 and Patna City 25. Among the rural blocks, 174 cases were reported, compared with 367 in urban areas. The district's hotspot list includes Rajapur Pul, Mainpura, Ashiana Magistrate Colony, Boring Road and Budha Colony under Patliputra; Kumhrar, Alamganj and Gulzarbagh under Ajimabad; and Jai Prakash Nagar in Kankarbagh. The health department reported that fogging had been carried out in 425 locations against the identified positive-case locations listed in its surveillance data. The figures indicate that preventive activity has been stepped up alongside the rise in infections. "Patna recorded 6,784 dengue cases in 2022, 8,628 in 2023, 5,041 in 2024 and 1,784 in 2025. The corresponding death tolls were zero, four, three and zero, respectively. The 541 cases recorded so far in 2026 are substantially below the totals reported in each of those four years," said Singh. The district's data also show that young adults have accounted for the largest share of infections this year. People aged 21-30 accounted for 140 cases, followed by those aged 11-20 with 124 and those aged 31-40 with 88. Children aged up to 10 accounted for 52 cases....