Over 60,000 given medicines to avoid leptospirosis

KALYAN: To avoid water-borne diseases and an epidemic, the health department in Thane district has in 12 days distributed 14.6 lakh doxycycline tablets to 60,863 flood-hit people, by organising medical camps and going door-to-door.
Health officials said, to avoid leptospirosis and other water-related diseases, they had given medicines like doxycycline and antibiotic injections. But at many flood-hit areas, residents complained about not getting medicines. Officials said camps were still on, and they would try to reach other areas too.
Thane district witnessed two major floods, including one on July 26, in Badlapur, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath, while in the second one last Sunday, low-lying areas in the district were affected.
Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation distributed 30,000 affected people medicines in Kalyan, Dombivli and Titwala.
Prakash Borase, chief executive officer of Badlapur-Kulgaon municipal council, said, "We distributed nearly 2400 doxycycline capsules. We cannot give it to all as it is contraindicated for pregnant women and children below 14.