Over 500 in hospital with gastro, malaria Seven Cases Of Cholera, 11 Of Dengue Seen In Week

Mumbai: The city continues to reel under an onslaught of water- and vectorborne diseases despite a brief lull in rainfall over the past week. Over 500 people had to be hospitalized with gastroenteritis and malaria over the duration of a week. 

    BMC's epidemiologist Dr Mangala Gomare said that 11 cases of dengue were reported in the past seven days, and 17 this month. 
    Cholera, too, seems to be lurking as seven cases were detected from the E ward, which includes Byculla, Reay Road and Dockyard Road. In all, 65 cases of cholera, an infection of the intestine caused by the bacteria vibrio cholerae, were detected in the city since the beginning of the rains in June. 
    Water-borne diseases continue to affect almost every part of the city. In the last three months, 4,252 people were afflicted by gastroenteritis. In the same period, 247 cases of hepatitis and 281 of typhoid were reported. 
    A civic official said Byculla saw the most cholera cases, followed by some areas in central Mumbai. Earlier, cholera cases were reported from Chembur, Matunga and Sandhurst Road. 
    "Except for certain areas that have seen a cluster of cases, most other cases have been random and limited to a few households only," the official said. 
    City physicians remained more concerned about vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. While malaria alone has contributed to 2,394 hospital admissions in the last three months, morbidity and mortality is associated more with dengue. 
    Civic records suggest that only 115 dengue victims needed hospitalization. 
    A 14-year-old boy from Worli succumbed to dengue last week. 
    Parel, Byculla, Mahalaxmi and Worli emerged as the hotbeds for dengue. "We are carrying on with the drive to make all housing societies aware of dengue's spread and ways to prevent it. So far, volunteers have reached out to over 2,000 housing societies," Gomare said. 
Civic body notice to mall in Bhayander T he health department of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation has issued a notice to Maxus Mall in Bhayander(W) after finding that tyres lying nearby have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Heaps of tyres used for car racing on a ground in the vicinity of the mall were found filled with rainwater. The mall has been given 24 hours to clear the tyres, failing which a penalty will be levied. TNN