Dengue claims kid; 8 cases of cholera in 8 days

Dengue claims kid; 8 cases of cholera in 8 days

Mumbai: The spate of monsoon diseases appears to be worsening with a nine-yearold boy succumbing to dengue in Hinduja Hospital and eight cases of cholera coming up in the first eight days of July alone.
    The boy, Yash Bansode, who lived in Vasai, died after a month-long hospitalization on Saturday. This is the second confirmed case of dengue death in metropolitan Mumbai; the first was that of a 42-year-old patient from Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road.
    Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) health officer Dr Sunil Wadkar confirmed the death and said Bansode had returned from his hometown of Sangli. Intensivist Dr Khushrav Bhajan of Hinduja Hospital said, “The boy needed dialysis in between. He developed secondary infection, and could not fight it out.”
    Meanwhile, the incidence of water-borne diseases has increased, confirmed BMC officials. After 12 cholera cases were recorded in June, there are eight confirmed cases in the first eight days of July. Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea, dehydration and, in rare cases, death.
    Three of the eight cases this month have been recorded from B Ward or the Kalbadevi stretch. “Eight cases in eight days does mean a spurt in cholera cases, but there is no reason to panic,” said a senior health official. “Cholera is something new this year as we did not have it last year. However, there is no breakout and we do not need to hit the panic button yet,” said BMC additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.
    Water-borne diseases are rising across the city in proportion to complaints of contaminated water flowing through municipal pipes and taps.
    Meanwhile, the BMC has decided to enlist the help of volunteers to spread awareness. “We have realized that highrises are also to blame. Clearly, there is need to spread awareness that water accumulation can lead to breeding of mosquitoes,’’ said Mhaiskar. BMC is roping in volunteers from NSS, TISS among others to travel to highrises. “This programme will start from July 15.”