7 die of monsoon-related ailments in a span of 9 days

Mumbai: As monsoon gathers pace this month, the number of people whose health it has been affecting is rising.
    According to BMC statistics, seven people have died due to monsoon-related diseases in just the first nine days of this month. A total of 3,752 Mumbaikars have been admitted to various city hospitals. While fever and malaria seem to be the major culprits, statistics show that gastroenteritis too is on the upswing.
    General practitioners across the city too are reporting a high number of malaria and fever cases. “The number of malaria cases, especially those of vivax, are high. A total of 15 patients suffering from malaria are uinder my treatment,’’ said Dr Hemant Thacker, who consults in Bhatia and Breach Candy hospitals. “The number of dengue cases are also slightly high.’’
    Dr Altaf Patel from Jaslok Hospital too is seeing an increase in malaraia as well as gastroenteritis cases. “We had almost 15 cases of gastroenteritis and eight cases of malaria in a week. Viral flu is also quite rampant.’’
    Dr G T Ambe, executive health officer from BMC said: “There is an increase in malaria and fever cases. But leptospirosis and dengue are under control. This time, we have decided to detect the diseases (especially malaria cases) early and treat them so that we can limit the number of deaths.’’
    On Friday alone, a total of 291 Mumbaikars suffering from fever and 95 from malaria were admitted to various city hospitals. Apart from these, 72 cases of gastroenteritis, three of dengue and one case of leptospirosis were admitted.
    Two More Swine Flu Deaths
    The city recorded two more deaths due to H1N1 on Friday, making it the third of this month and the tenth since the onset of monsoon. Positive cases too seem to be consistently rising, with 20 more people testing positive, including four children. A 52-year-old diabetic man with a history of hypertension, and another 80-year-old woman with a history of high blood pressure succumbed to swine flu. The presence of co-morbid conditions has emerged as deadly as even in the previous year, a little more than 75% of deaths were of those who had some preexisting health ailment. “It could be that both the patients did not seek medical help immediately,” said Dr Girish Ambe, executive health officer, BMC.