City grapples with monsoon ailments

With the city experiencing showers since Friday, there has been a spurt in monsoon-related viral ailments, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sources. Data collected by BMC indicates a spike this month in cases of viral infections, including sore eyes, fever, gastroenteritis, and even dengue and leptospirosis. As per data collected by BMC’s epidemiology department till August last week, “There have been 684 gastro, 665 malaria, 77 hepatitis (A and E), 994 suspected dengue, 5,935 viral fever, and 299 suspected leptospirosis cases. The report confirmed 69 dengue cases and 45 leptospirosis cases.”

Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said, “Stagnant water accumulated in several parts of the city must have led to an increase in the number of mosquito breeding sites. Rise in number of certain diseases is noted. major rise so far.”

“The civic body has also launched an intensive information, education and communication campaign in areas that are susceptible to diseases. It has also bolstered its newly constructed urban health centres to deal with monsoon diseases,” added Dr Keskar.

Speaking to The Asian Age, J.J. Hospital’s head of ophthalmology, Dr Ragini Parekh, said, “After the showers, there has been a notable rise in patients suffering from eye sore. If a person has such an infection, it is very much important to keep such a patient in isolation till the infection clears.”