Measles outbreak: Govandi citizens send legal notice to Maharashtra govt

As Mumbai witnessed a three-fold spike in measles cases, residents of M East ward, which is the most hit, have sent a legal notice to the state health minister. They alleged that persistently high air pollution in the area weakens their immune system, making them vulnerable to viral diseases. They asked the government to take measures to curb the spread of the disease and check air pollution, failing which they will move the court.

M East ward, which covers Govandi, Deonar, has recorded three deaths and the majority of the 84 cases reported in the city between September and October. The city has recorded a total of 109 cases of measles from January to November 12. Following the outbreak in Govandi earlier this month, a total of 80,603 houses in M East ward have been surveyed so far.

Also read: Measles outbreak: Central team visits Govandi slums

Children being vaccinated as part of a immunisation drive at Govandi, on Saturday

On November 7, mid-day reported about three children of a family who died on October 26 and 27. In the initial probe by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, it was found that the children might have been infected with measles. Thereafter, more cases of measles were detected in the vicinity. In view of this, the Union ministry of health and family welfare sent a three-member team to Govandi to review the situation.

‘Danger looming over us'

The residents sent the notice through Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, a Govandi resident and founder-president of NGO New Sangam Welfare Society which fights for clean air in M East ward.

Shaikh said, "We have sent the legal notice in the public interest without having any intention to hurt or harm any reputation of the minister or officials. We only wish to bring to the notice of the minister and the bureaucrats at the department of health and family welfare yet another example of the danger looming over us that is the measles outbreak. Through the legal notice, we have urged them to conduct a scientific investigation of how being exposed to highly polluted air has affected the immune systems of the residents of the area."

M East ward covers nearly 250 slum pockets and is already a known tuberculosis hotspot. Residents have, for years, alleged that they have been treated as guinea pigs for various projects that are leading to serious health hazards for them.

Advocate Saif Alam, who is representing the case on behalf of the residents, said, "The slums here have once again become a hotspot for viral diseases such as the current outbreak of measles. Lack of education and awareness of such issues has worsened the conditions. The dumping ground, the biomedical waste treatment plant in our backyard have been affecting our health. There has been no intervention from the government's side. The government has not conducted any scientific study on the effects of these projects on the health of the residents. On behalf of my client, who represents residents of Deonar and Govandi, we have urged the government to conduct an investigation into the matter before it is too late."

"We have also demanded that the health department should release a report of this investigation on the multiple health problems of M East ward and submit it to us as a reply and send the same to the environment ministry as well as the state and central pollution control boards," he added.

ExpertSpeak

Dr Sundeep Salvi, pulmonologist and director of Pune-based Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation, said, "Air pollution on its own cannot aggravate any disease, but it weakens your immune system, which in turn can lead to easy contraction of any viral or respiratory diseases. However, it is a multifactorial thing and the combined consequence of overcrowding, lack of nutrition, unhygienic conditions etc. Air pollution is just one of the components."

A senior BMC official said, "There are various causes and reasons for health issues in certain areas. If people are complaining of certain outbreaks or symptoms of diseases observed among residents, we need to conduct a scientific study to pin down a cause. Without a scientific story, we cannot comment much
on this."

80,603
No. of houses in M East ward surveyed so far