Pre-monsoon rains bring illness

Mumbai: With the city witnessing pre-monsoon showers on Friday night and fluctuation of temperatures, there has been a rise in various infectious ailments such as fever, throat infection, cold and cough.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advised city doctors to guide patients and report instances of infections to the civic body.  The BMC has also urged the doctors to spread awareness regarding eating habits and other unhealthy practices that lead to infectious diseases.

According to the BMC data, more than 307 cases of flu, cold, cough, viral infections and 979 gastroenteritis cases were reported in the city between January and April. After the recent showers, the BMC has asked general practitioners to make a report and submit it to the ward office.

This comes after the rise in cases of swine flu and gastroenteritis was reported. The civic body also declared precautionary guidelines.  After conducting the survey, the BMC found that 92 per cent of E-Coli bacteria was present in ice used by street vendors. In the month of April, the city has witnessed one death and 21 cases of swine flu were reported since January.

Dr Dilip Patil general physician said, “The civic body has issued advisory and stated that doctors must guide the patients regarding the health and hygiene.”