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Leptospirosis Outbreak: Contaminated Flood Water In Mumbai Claims Two Lives

by Shirley Johanna on Jul 7 2015 8:17 PM

Leptospirosis Outbreak: Contaminated Flood Water In Mumbai Claims Two Lives
Heavy rains and floods have brought back cases of leptospirosis in Mumbai, India. It has claimed two lives and affected 15 people in July.
Leptospirosis is an bacterial infection that affects people who have waded through flood waters contaminated with urine of rats and dogs.

The infection is easily treatable if diagnosed early and causes complications such as multi-organ failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome if the treatment is delayed.

A 30-year-old Dahisar resident visited a private doctor with initial symptoms on June 27, he was admitted to a civic-run hospital on July 1. He succumbed to acute respiratory distress syndrome on July 2.

The second victim, 16-year-old from Kandivli, had walked through flooded areas before falling ill. He visited a private doctor and was admitted to a civic-run hospital on July 1 and succumbed to fever and acute infection on July 2.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, BMC’s executive health officer said, "We have noticed a slight increase in leptospirosis cases, but there doesn’t seem to be one particular focus area. But people have to be cautious and rush to doctors at the first sign of fever. If the fever is accompanied with abdominal pain, there is reason to suspect leptospirosis."

Cases of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue has increased with 30 suspected cases in July so far as against 30 cases throughout June. 

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Source-Medindia


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