Rain-related diseases on the rise in Mumbai

Mumbai: Rains in Mumbai these days bring little cheer. With 25 per cent of city roads under construction, rain-related diseases are on the rise, aggravated by construction debris, stagnant pools of water and leaking pipes that lead to water contamination.

Municipal authorities and public health services say the rise in construction work around the city has directly led to a 15-20 per cent rise in cases of malaria and fever in Mumbai this year.

The city has already seen 1981 recorded cases of malaria diagnosed since June 1, 600 cases of gastroenteritis, two cases of leptospirosis and five cases of dengue. Fears of H1N1 are also rising with three deaths from H1N1 in Mumbai already recorded and 30 cases diagnosed so far in May and June.

Municipal authorities say they are specifically wary of an outbreak of malaria this year and add that they are already campaigning in slum areas and construction sites, particularly urging migrant labourers - among the largest carriers of the infection - to get treated as soon as possible.

Hospitals like KEM have also set up additional wards for treatment of rain-related diseases.

"We have set up special OPDs and an observation ward and have a rapid response team of doctors to attend to patients as and when the cases come up," says Dr Pravin Bangar, Senior Assistant Medical Officer, KEM Hospital.

Traffic congestion, flooding, and now disease; every monsoon, in what is becoming a disturbing pattern, maximum city is being pushed more and more to brink.

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