Nearly 40 cases of Malaria and Gastro have been reported across Mumbai in the first three days of July, while dengue cases are increasing in the E ward (Reay road and Madanpura areas) and HE ward (Indira Nagar, Gaondevi, Vakola pipeline). The BMC has appealed to all citizens to adhere to the following preventive and precautionary measures.
Dr Behram Pardiwala, Director of Internal Medicines, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central said, "We have seen cases of infectious disease like malaria, leptospirosis which occurs. What is unusual is that we are seeing reflux cases. We have also seen many upper respiratory tract infections, especially viral diseases like influenza, severe cough, and runny nose. Almost 2-3 cases every day. I am seeing 2-3 reflux cases every week."
Dr Vikrant Shah, consulting physician, intensivist and infectious disease specialist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital Chembur, said, "since monsoon has already arrived, they have observed cases of monsoon infection till now. The symptoms of viral and Covid tend to overlap with each other. If one is having joint pain, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, tiredness, runny nose, or loss of appetite for more than three days, then he/she should do a Covid test to check for infection."
"The viral cases are on the rise due to sudden changes in the climate owing to the monsoon. People get drenched in rain or end up wearing wet clothes for a longer time which can raise their chances of having a viral. Currently, there is a surge in malaria and dengue cases due to mosquito breeding in rainwater. Approximately 5 to 6 cases of malaria and 5 to 6 cases of dengue have been seen till now,” he said.
Dr Rahul Pandit, Director of Critical Care Medicine & ICU said, "As covid and vector-borne diseases have a few similar symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, body ache, sometimes it is confusing, so we go for a test. Timely diagnosis and treatment avoid the risk of progression of the disease."
BMC has meanwhile issued advisories requesting citizens to take extra care, not ignore fever and desist from self-medication. They should be alert to symptoms for the next 7 to 10 days.
If a person is having symptoms like fever with chills, joint pains, rashes, cough, breathlessness, diarrhoea, vomiting, sore throat or jaundice, they should immediately visit a nearby dispensary or inform the community health volunteer or consult their doctors.
