Mumbai: Twelve people, including six minors, succumbed to dengue in the city in September. As many as 412 confirmed cases and 3,721 cases of suspected dengue or with dengue-like symptoms were recorded last month.
The mosquito-borne disease killed three people in the first 15 days of the month, while the remaining nine deaths were reported between September 16 and 30. In 2016, the BMC had recorded just three dengue deaths and 382 cases in September.
“This period is conducive for mosquito breeding, especially after heavy rainfall. A similar spurt was noticed in 2005-06 after heavy rainfall,” said Minnie Khetarpal, the epidemiology head of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
She said the municipal corporation has analysed every death, and conducted a house-to-house survey to identify symptomatic patients.
“We have not found any clustering of cases. The cases as well as deaths have been reported from various locations,” said Dr. Khetarpal. She said most dengue-spreading mosquitoes are bred indoors.
Among the deceased are a 14-year-old boy from Santacruz, a 15-month-old girl from Kurla, a two-year-old boy from Andheri, a 10-year-old boy from Dadar, a 20-year-old woman from Nagpada, a 16-year-old boy from Dharavi, a 30-year-old man from Goregaon, a 13-year-old boy from Agripada and a 57-year-old woman from Kurar village. Most of the victims are young, mainly children, who are highly vulnerable due to low immunity.
“We have strengthened vector control activities in the city. Several exercises have been undertaken for awareness as well, many of them in BMC schools, so that children become aware and pass on the information to their parents,” said Dr. Khetarpal.
Health experts say that controlling dengue is as much the responsibility of citizens as of civic officials. The main mosquito breeding spots are inside the homes, where water is stored without a lid, or accumulates in places like plant holders and tarpaulin sheets.
The city also recorded three deaths due to leptospirosis last month.
Civic officials said the spread of the disease was controlled as citizens were advised in time to take precautionary medication after the heavy rain and floods. Leptospirosis spreads through cattle urine, mostly in people who have waded through water and have open wounds or cracks on their feet or legs.
