Mumbai saw spike in monsoon related diseases with June rains

However, on June 14, a death suspected to be related to leptospirosis was recorded in Mumbai which is under the review of the death committee to confirm the cause of death.

Officials at BMC attribute the spike to increase in surveillance with the number of reporting units increasing from 22 to 880 in Mumbai.

Dr Daksha Shah, newly-appointed executive health official at BMC, said a ‘rapid detection’ campaign for dengue and malaria will be implemented along with private hospitals, lab clinics and medical professionals to detection cases early. Moreover, BMC has issued a circular to private hospitals directing them to report dengue and malaria cases to the civic health department.

“We have improved surveillance so the numbers of cases recorded will be more, but this will help us provide timely treatment to patients. Also, there will be a rise in number of patients due to aggressive search operations and early detection of cases,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sudhakar Shinde, additional municipal commissioner, Health department, said that an anti-dengue malaria campaign will be conducted following protocols laid during Covid-19 pandemic- ‘Screen, Trace and Test’. Under this, civic wards have been directed to look out for patients showing symptoms of dengue and malaria, and to conduct mandatory medical tests. Also, BMC has activated all Covid war-rooms to help tackle dengue, malaria and other monsoon ailments.

“Just like Covid protocol, if any patient is diagnosed with dengue/malaria, our officers from ward rooms will call them for follow ups,” he said.