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From Monkeypox To Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Health Diseases Spreading Rapidly In India

Not only COVID-19, cases of other diseases including monkeypox have been increasing in India. Here's a list of diseases spreading in India that you need to know about.

Written By Arushi Bidhuri
Updated : July 25, 2022 10:25 AM IST

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Diseases Spreading In India

The world was still grappling with the spread of coronavirus when the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox baffled health officials around the world. A disease that remained within the boundaries of Africa for years had finally entered other countries. Over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries that never saw it coming. India too has reported three cases of monkeypox, which has raised concerns. These are the only diseases wreaking havoc on people in India, here is a list of diseases spreading rapidly in India right now.

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COVID-19

In the last 24 hours, India has recorded 20,279 new COVID cases, bringing the total tally to 4,38,88,755. Cases of coronavirus are still increasing almost three years after combating the disease. Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can lead to a mild to moderate respiratory illness. Common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, sore throat, headache, pains, diarrhoea, rash on the skin, and red or irritated eyes. Serious symptoms of the disease include shortness of breath, loss of speech or mobility, confusion and chest pain.

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Monkeypox

Monkeypox has infected four people in India so far, one in Delhi and three in Kerala. But several other suspected cases are under observation. The first cases of the disease were reported on July 4 in India. Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease transmitted to humans from animals. The disease is a rare but potentially serious disease that shows symptoms like fever, chills, cold, cough, headache, body ache, swelling of the lymph nodes, exhaustion, chills, and rash similar to pimples.

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Dengue

Several states in India have been experiencing an uptick in the daily cases of dengue. In Pune, a growing number of kids are suffering from dengue-induced HLH syndrome (haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis). Dengue was also reported in Karnataka and Telangana. Dengue is a viral illness caused by mosquitoes that spreads during the monsoon. It is spread through the Aedes aegypti mosquito's infectious bite. Common symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, rash, muscular soreness, and joint pain are some of the signs of dengue. Dengue fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever are two types (DHF). While DHF is a more severe version of the disease that can be fatal, dengue fever is a serious, flu-like sickness.

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Japanese Encephalitis

With more than 200 people infected with Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Assam is witnessing a surge in the daily number of cases. JE is a common disease that leads to fatalities every year during monsoon, this year it has claimed 38 lives so far. For the unversed, JE is a virus that spreads to people through a bite of an infected mosquito. Some of the common symptoms of the disease are sudden headaches, high fever, coma, tremors, convulsions, and disorientation.

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African Swine Fever

After a pig in an Assamese village in Dibrugarh tested positive for African swine fever (ADF), health officials deemed it infectious for anyone within a 1 km radius. The World Health Organization defines ASF as a viral disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs and has a 100 per cent fatality rate. The international organization claims that ASF poses no risk to human health and does not spread from animals to humans.

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Swine Flu

Several states have been witnessing a rise in Swine flu cases. Maharashtra reported 142 cases in June. For the unversed, swine flu is a seasonal flu caused by the H1N1 virus. Generally, swine flu leads to pneumonia and in severe cases, it can cause death. Symptoms of the disease include high fever (39 degrees), sore throat, dry cough, headaches, exhaustion and weakness, cold hands and feet, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Adults may only show symptoms after seven days, whilst children show signs after ten days.

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Tomato Fever

Kerala has been witnessing a rise in cases of Tomato fever, which mainly affects children of ages 5 or younger. Reports suggest as many as 80 cases of the infection have been reported in the Kollam district in Kerala. The name of the illness is derived from the signs and symptoms that appear following infection, such as blisters that are often rounded and red in colour, along with rashes and itching. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, rashes, dehydration, blisters, nausea, vomiting, cold, cough, body ache and headache.

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Norovirus

Kerala reported cases of norovirus in June in two kids in Thiruvananthapuram. Norovirus also known as the “winter vomiting bug” or “stomach flu” is a very contagious virus that spreads through food, water and surfaces. The main pathway is oral-faecal. Similar to the rotavirus that causes diarrhoea, it affects people of all ages. One or two days after exposure to the virus, vomiting and/or diarrhoea appear as the first norovirus symptoms. In addition to experiencing nausea, the patients also have a fever, headaches, and body aches. In extreme circumstances, fluid loss could result in dehydration.

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How Can You Protect Yourself?

For COVID, you can continue practising the mandatory precautions set by the health authorities along with getting vaccinated for the disease. For monkeypox, avoid getting close to people who have a rash that resembles the symptoms of monkeypox. Maintain bathroom and personal hygiene. For anyone infected with these diseases should isolate themselves. For water-borne diseases, it is advisable to avoid eating fried food during the season and rather eat a healthy diet high in essential nutrients.