Mumbai : Street food, however hygienic it is, but when it gets mixed with the heavy rains, the same becomes a deadly combination for rise in waterborne diseases. This is part of a larger problem that the maximum city is experiencing right now. The civic body’s health report has stated that the city has witnessed eight cases of cholera and 1,755 cases of gastro in July alone.
The health experts say that water contamination and consumption of junk food are the major causes for waterborne diseases.
City doctors say that they are witnessing patients with 25-30 episodes of dysentery, which are turning out to be severe. They stated that people are habituated to eating outside food and eat food from roadside stalls, which do not have any guarantee for the quality.
Dr. Shahid Bharmare, general physician at Kohinoor Hospital said, “Monsoon is not the right time to consume food from outside as it can lead to various diseases. People should avoid eating cut salads, raw fruits and golas which are available at the stalls. It is crucial that people understand the severity of the situation as these diseases can turn fatal as there is lot of dehydration from the body and it can lead to kidney failure.”
The civic body has started to check the quality of water in different areas of the city. Dr Minni Khetarpal, head of epidemiology cell at BMC said, “We are checking upon the water-borne diseases in the city and the areas from where we are witnessing these cases. However, people should avoid junk food and in spite carry home-made food which is hygienic and healthy for consumption.”
