Mumbai: The cases of gastroenteritis have risen by 13 per cent in May, with the civic health department recording 730 cases in its dispensaries and hospitals. Senior health officials said no deaths have been reported so far and most cases are being handled on an out-patient department basis.
As per the data, the cases were high in January but later it decreased to 666 in February, while in March, the gastroenteritis cases stood at 641, which further decreased to 633 in April.
A senior health official said the public health department has recorded an increase in the number of gastroenteritis cases as compared to other monsoon-related illnesses like dengue, malaria, leptospirosis and others. “As per doctors, every week they receive around 100 to 120 patients who are suffering from gastroenteritis,” he said.
Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer from civic-run public health department, said they have not received any report regarding increase in number of monsoon-related illnesses so far.
“There are gastro cases reported across the wards. Exact number of cases will be collected and reported by the end of June.As a preventive measure, we have undertaken sanitation campaigns related to food and water across the wards in the city,” said Dr Keskar.
Data released by the BMC, after a month-long survey in May, found that out of the 948 samples of ice, collected from hotels, fast food chains and restaurants, E-coli bacteria was present in 92 per cent (870)of the ice samples.
They had also collected random ice samples from street food vendors across its 24 wards, out of 476 ice samples collected, E-coli bacteria was present in 126.
The worst-affected areas are Sandhurst Road, Kalbadevi, Grant Road, Matunga, Dadar, Andheri East, Ghatkopar, Mulund and Kandivali West, and all the samples collected from street hawkers and restaurants in these areas had e-coli bacteria present.
In other wards, 60 to 90 per cent samples had traces of the bacteria. “Water contamination and food contamination have been majorly responsible for these diseases spreading. The citizens should take care of hygiene, sanitation and maintain cleanliness,” said a senior health official.
