Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : October 30, 2014 11:53 AM IST
Mumbai is reeling under the huge burden of Dengue and so far the number of cases seem to only be rising. Recently Dr Shruti Khobraghade, a 23-year-old resident doctor at KEM Hospital succumbed to the disease and according to reports by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), the instances of the mosquito borne disease is steadily on the rise, a worrisome fact.
According to Dr. Mangala Gomare, epidemiology cell head at the BMC, there have been 650 cases of dengue in Mumbai in the last month, pointing out that south Mumbai has some of the most virulent attacks, with over 500 being reported in 30 days.
In a statement to Mumbai Mirror, Dr Paratit Samadani, senior physician who consults at Saifee, Bhatia, Jaslok and Cumbala Hill hospital said, 'Every day I am seeing around five dengue cases. In the last two months, I have seen at least 200 cases especially from south Mumbai.' In the same vein, Dr Zahir Kazi, also reiterated the fact that he had seen over 100 cases of dengue in the last month. Sadly, out of the 200 cases admitted to Noor hospital in south Mumbai, two have succumbed to the disease so far. Incidentally, actor and father of Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor has also been diagnosed with dengue and malaria. He is 62 years old and is currently admitted at Lilavati Hospital. His wife Neetu said that he is 'getting better' in a statement to Mumbai Mirror.
Dengue is transmitted by the Ades aegypti mosquito that breeds in areas where stagnant water pools like air-conditioner ducts, plant pots, discarded garbage, and construction material. What makes matters worse for people living in south Mumbai is the fact that along with the large number of constructions around in the area, further enhancing the breeding of mosquitoes, BMC officials have found that several apartment buildings have become rich breeding grounds for the causative mosquitoes.
According to reports by the Mumbai Mirror, on Wednesday two BMC officers surveyed two apartment complexes around Breach Candy Hospital, where several residents were diagnosed with dengue and found that since one of the buildings was being renovated and there was a leak in the pipeline of the building, the water had stagnated on the terrace and at the back of the building, forming a perfect breeding ground for Ades aegypti larve and mosquitoes. So much so, that they found a number of larve in the pools of water and flower pots around the area.
Amongst the areas that have had dengue cases, the ones with the most infections are Nagpada, Masjid, Mazgaon, Byculla, Prabhadevi, Worli and Bandra.
Image source: Getty Images
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