Mumbai: The city has recorded six deaths due to monsoon-related ailments in August. According to civic officials, two people have succumbed to dengue and one to H1N1. Malaria and leptospirosis have killed one victim each.
While rain has become erratic now, last week’s floods have increased the risk of leptospirosis and gastroenteritis. The civic body has increased the measures in the areas where deaths and cases have been reported from.
For example, the 49-year-old man, who died of leptospirosis, was from Borivali. “In the locality, as many as 925 houses were surveyed and people with symptoms were treated immediately. Similar measures have been undertaken in other localities,” said a civic official, adding that all the deaths were reported prior to the heavy rain on August 29. However, post-flooding, measures are important as the diseases see a spurt.
Learning its lessons after the 2005 floods, which was followed by a leptospirosis outbreak, the BMC issued a public notification urging people to take preventive medication in case they have waded through water. An SMS campaign was also undertaken, which targetted over 50 lakh citizens, sensitising them to the importance of the prophylaxis treatment.