Leptospirosis, gastroenteritis cases on the rise, says BMC

BMC says returned migrants brought back the street food

Following a drop in the number of monsoon-related ailments like leptospirosis and gastroenteritis last year, cases are on the rise in the city this time. Though the figures are way lower than that of 2019 considering that there are restrictions in Mumbai, the spurt in the diseases is a sign of the return of roadside food vendors, said civic officials.

Last July, the city reported 15 cases of lepto, while it has seen as many in the first 11 days of this month, show BMC data. Since the bacterial infection is spread by walking in polluted or unclean water and rodents mainly carry it, the civic body has appealed to citizens not to venture outside during heavy rain.

Throughout last year, the city reported 240 cases of lepto with 8 deaths. In the previous year, there were 281 cases and 11 fatalities. Until July 11 this year, 74 cases of lepto were reported.

Also read: Relief from heavy rain for Mumbai from July 15

Gastro cases have shown a similar trend as well. In the first 11 days of this month, Mumbai has reported 106 cases compared to 56 for the entire July last year. There were 994 gastro cases in the same month of 2019. The total number of cases throughout the year in 2019 was 7,785 and in 2020, it was 2,549. It has been 1,384 so far this year.

On the Malaria front, Mumbai has recorded 230 cases this month against 954 last July. Dengue cases for the same period this year are 8 compared to 11 and one death in the full month last year.

994
No. of gastroenteritis cases city recorded in July 2019