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Will leptospirosis prove to be fatal?

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Doctors are worried about the rising cases of leptospirosis in the city.

LeptospirosisThe heavy rains witnessed by Mumbai since last two days has resulted into waterlogging in several parts of the city. Already 16 people have died in the metropolis due to leptospirosis a water-borne disease that witnesses a spurt during monsoons. Doctors are already worried about the rising cases of leptospirosis in the city. When people walk through flooded streets, there is a higher chance of them coming in contact with such infected urine and faecal matter and contracting the disease.

Mumbai is the only district which has recorded so many deaths due to the bacterial infection which is more common in the Konkan belt. Leptospirosis spreads when the urine of a dog or rat infected by the disease and comes in contact with human skin.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started holding awareness campaigns and taken some initiatives to get rid of rodents from the city. As per official sources 1.18 lakh rats were killed in Mumbai in the past 6 months, since January. However, the civic body has received flak from the opposition for not doing enough to control rat menace in the city.

“The civic body is supposed to employ 44 workers to kill rats, but currently there are only 31 on the civic body’s payroll. Moreover, the only incentive given to these workers to kill rats is their daily wage. If these workers do not kill 30 rats in one night and produce them before the civic body as proof, they are not paid their wages for the day”, according to Devendra Amberkar, the leader of the opposition in the BMC.

“People should take proper precautions during monsoon season. They must avoid walking on water logged streets. Citizens also must refrain from having street food and drink warm water” said a civic official.

In 2013, Thane had reported seven deaths and in 2012, Sindhdurg had recorded five deaths (which were the highest any district has recorded before Mumbai).

In 2012, the entire state had reported 16 leptospirosis deaths, which marginally increased to 20 in 2013 and dropped further to seven last year. There have been no deaths so far in the region.

“It is not difficult to treat patients with leptospirosis. We were able to reduce the mortality by identifying patients with symptoms in the initial stage and treating them,” said Dr Satish Pawar, director, directorate of health service, Maharashtra.

However, a senior civic official said the thickly populated slums, self-medication and the presence of private doctors who are usually the first point of contact made matters worse. “There was a delay in treatment in most cases which resulted in death,” said a civic official.

“People should not walk barefoot on accumulated water as they might get infected. Pedestrians should wear comfortable footwear during the rainy season” he added.

Andamans had effectively managed to deal with Leptospirosis by conducting awareness programmes for farmers and animal handlers on taking care of their wounds and rearing animals in hygienic conditions.

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