The Hindu : National : After rains, Mumbai faces epidemic situation

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Friday, Aug 12, 2005

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National

After rains, Mumbai faces epidemic situation

Special Correspondent

Drinking water contaminated due to floods; 29 die of suspected leptospirosis, dengue in Thane district

SPURT IN CASES: Patients being examined at Nirmala Nagar in Mumbai on Thursday. — Photo: Paul Noronha

MUMBAI: Mumbai that got devastated by downpour and deluge a fortnight ago is now facing a serious outbreak of leptospirosis and dengue.

At least 66 persons have died of suspected leptospirosis and dengue in the past three days, including 37 in Mumbai and 29 in Kalyan-Dombivali towns in adjacent Thane district. The number of persons admitted to various hospitals that was 447 on Wednesday, more than doubled to 1,062 on Thursday.

"The incidence was high and of epidemic proportion but we have enough medical infrastructure and drug supply to combat it," declared Public Health Minister Vimal Mundada at a press conference here.

Maharashtra Director General of Health Subhash Salunkhe who was present at the press conference said the Government had invoked the Epidemic Act and made it obligatory for all private hospitals to treat patients having fever. "They will not be able to turn away anybody and it would be mandatory for them to notify the cases to the civic health authorities," he said.

He said that under the law, district collectors and municipal commissioners were empowered to declare an epidemic. "Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai Johny Joseph will declare the epidemic," he said. Mr. Joseph, however, said the city had no epidemic.

Dr. Mundada said heavy floods were often followed by epidemics because of contamination of sources of drinking water. Another cause was being in water for long hours. The rains devastated Mumbai and the neighbouring towns for three days from July 26 last. The health officials said that the symptoms of the leptospirosis showed up during 14th to 21st day and this had already begun. The next four days were very important, they said.

The spurt in the incidence is being reported from suburbs like Bandra, Kurla, Goregaon, Andheri, and Kherwadi etc, which were hit by the deluge. Dr. Mundada said 112 cases of lepton, 39 cases of dengue, 48 of typhoid, 1127 of gastroenteritis and 662 of fever were noticed in Mumbai.

All hospitals would be required to give antibiotic treatment along with that for malaria. Dr. Salunkhe said crash courses were being held for private family doctors on what he called `standard case management protocol,' instructing them to administer injectible penicillin. He described the situation as `an emergency.' Most of the deaths occurred in private hospitals where the patients were treated only for malaria, he said.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, is spread by the urine of infected animals and is generally not communicated by infected humans. Many animals died during the flood and thousands of people had to walk through the flooded roads in Mumbai. The symptoms are fever, headache, chills, vomiting, jaundice, anaemia and sometimes rash.

Dr. Salunkhe said that early detection and antibiotic treatment were very crucial for cure.

Dengue, a flue-like viral disease is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

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