Over 31,000 people have been affected by chicken gunia in 209 villages of Maharashtra, the state Assembly was informed Tuesday.

Replying to an adjournment notice on the issue by Eknath Khadse of Bharatiya Janata Party, Public Health Minister Dr Vimal Mundada said the disease spreads through mosquitoes which breed in stored water.

As a precautionary measure, cleaning of water storage tank and other sources of stored water, was advisable once a week, the minister said.

Khadse said the disease had spread in Dhule, Nandurbar and Jalgaon districts, besides some other districts of the state.