Mumbai: Cold Snap And Dengue Outbreak: Mumbai Records Alarming Surge In Patients

Mumbai, 20th September 2023: The unpredictable weather patterns in Mumbai, marked by simultaneous bouts of scorching heat and cloudy conditions, have provided an ideal breeding ground for winter fever and dengue-carrying mosquitoes this September. Consequently, the city of Mumbai has witnessed a notable upswing in cases of both cold-related ailments and dengue infections over the past week.

As reports indicate, September has now eclipsed June, July, and August in terms of dengue patient numbers, marking a concerning trend.

With the city’s weather oscillating between sporadic rains and rising temperatures, water accumulation has become a recurring issue in Mumbai. This has, in turn, created fertile conditions for the proliferation of Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary vectors responsible for the transmission of dengue and winter fever. Consequently, a marked increase in dengue and winter fever cases has become evident across Mumbai in recent days.

According to the report of monsoon-related diseases announced by the Public Health Department of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, 756 cases of winter fever and 703 cases of dengue were found on September 18. The number of patients in September is higher compared to the previous three months. 676 cases of winter fever were found in June, 721 in July, and 1080 in August. Also, 353 dengue cases were found in June, 685 in July, and 999 in August. Although there is an increase in the number of cold and dengue patients, the cases of lepto, hepatitis, chikungunya, and swine flu are showing a decreasing trend.

In a proactive approach, the municipal corporation is gearing up to tackle the menace of monsoon-related diseases head-on. Municipal employees conducted a comprehensive survey, visiting 750 households and covering a staggering 49 lakh and 78 thousand individuals. Of these, blood samples were collected from 83 thousand and 342 people. Furthermore, 23 offices were visited and surveyed. Also, 1270 places of origin of the Anopheles mosquito responsible for the growth of malaria and 9976 places of origin of the Aedes mosquito responsible for the growth of dengue have been destroyed.

Although there has been a significant decrease in the number of gastrointestinal patients in September as compared to the previous three months, 322 patients have been found as of September 18. Therefore, although the risk of gastrointestinal disease is less, corporations advise people to be careful.