In the first eight days of July this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has recorded eight new cases of cholera with three cases in the B Ward, i.e. the Kalbadevi region, alone. Along with cholera, cases of gastroenteritis is also on the rise.
The eight cases in merely eight days indicate a spurt in the number of cholera cases, but the BMC maintained that there is “no need to hit the panic button” yet. However, in the month of June, the city recorded 12 cholera cases.
The E Ward, which constitutes the Byculla, Chinchpokli and Mumbai Central region, registered two cholera cases, and the C Ward (Marine Lines area), G South Ward (Worli, Elphinstone Road) and F South Ward (Parel, Worli, Sewri) recorded one case each.
“Cholera is a new disease 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.
Meanwhile, other monsoon ailments are also on the rise. Along with cholera, gastroenteritis is on the rise too, with 686 cases in the first eight days of July. The figures for the corresponding month in 2012 stood at 1,625. “Vomiting combined with diarrhoea is generally gastroenteritis. However, all gastroenteritis cases are predisposed to be cholera. The culture test is merely a means of confirming the presence of the Vibrio Cholerae Bacterium,” said director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Delhi, Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch.
In order to curb the spread of monsoon diseases, especially dengue, the BMC is starting a campaign, whereby they will visit the highrises in the city and carry out awareness campaigns. “We have roped in national service scheme (NSS) volunteers, student groups and NGOs, who will spread awareness about what precautions to take to avoid breeding of mosquitoes,” said Ms Mhaiskar.