Mumbai has seen a surge in H1N1 (swine flu) cases over the last three months, as the number of cases have jumped to 441 this year from 62 during same period last year. This marks a 612% rise, while for malaria the cases have seen a 20% rise.
According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s monsoon data for June, July, and August, 441 cases of H1N1, and 4,485 malaria cases were recorded between June and August as compared to 3,733 last year.
To curb the surge of swine flu, BMC has been screening suspected H1N1 patients, and prescribing Oseltamivir. Further, surveys are being conducted in the affected regions, where the H1N1 positive cases have been located.
The BMC said suspected H1N1 patients are being screened and treated with oseltamivir wherever required. Close contacts of infected patients are being monitored for 10 days, while door-to-door surveys are being conducted in affected areas. BMC also clarified that they have prepared ventilators, PPE kits, reserved beds and medicines to manage patients for hospitalisation.’
Mumbai’s E-ward, K-West ward, G-South ward, F-South ward, and H-West ward have so far recorded the highest cases of malaria. To combat the vector-borne disease, BMC has increased the field-level monitoring in most affected areas. They have surveyed 52,197 potential breeding sites for malaria control. Anopheles mosquito breeding sites were detected at 8,055 locations, along with 12,55,469 potential mosquito breeding sites for dengue control, and Aedes mosquito breeding at 27,352 areas.
Decline in monsoon related illnesses.
Mumbai saw a decline in dengue cases,leptospirosis cases, COVID-19 cases, Chikungunya, and Gastroenteritis. According to BMC data, COVID-19 cases dropped drastically by 77% this year, as 151 cases were recorded compared to last year’s 668. For dengue the fall has been by 20% — 1,563 patients recorded this year in June, July, and August. For chikungunya, cases have dropped from 370 to 46, a decrease of 87%.
Leptospirosis cases declined by 37% — from 406 to 255, while gastroenteritis cases dropped from 2,197 to 1,954, this year.
