BMC ramps up preventive measures: Early arrival of monsoon triggers uptick in seasonal diseases in Mumbai
By Mihika Layak
The early arrival of the monsoon in Mumbai has led to a noticeable surge in seasonal diseases. According to the latest data released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), several vector and water-borne diseases have shown a marked increase in 2025, prompting intensified surveillance and preventive measures across the city.
Between January and mid-June this year, cases of malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and gastroenteritis have seen an uptick compared to the same period in 2024.
Malaria cases rose from 1,612 to 1,973, while chikungunya spiked from just 21 cases last year to 115 this year. Gastroenteritis numbers climbed slightly from 3,478 to 3,577, and Hepatitis cases jumped from 248 to 359.
Although Leptospirosis numbers declined, the overall rise in seasonal diseases has set off alarm bells, especially with the city only just entering peak monsoon season.
In the first two weeks of June alone, over 390 Gastroenteritis cases and 341 Malaria cases were reported.
Although dengue figures dropped slightly this month, the breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes — clean, stagnant water during intermittent rains — remain a significant concern.
The city also recorded a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. As many as 366 new infections were reported in the first half of June alone, up from 93 in the same period last year.
The surge in monsoon-related illnesses has prompted public health authorities to intensify surveillance and preventive measures across the city.
The BMC has surveyed over 3.7 lakh homes and 17 lakh residents for fever, with over 66,000 blood samples collected.
More than 36,000 people have been given prophylactic treatment for leptospirosis. Vector control teams have fogged over 25,000 buildings and over 3.8 lakh huts, and removed over 37,000 breeding grounds, including stagnant water from tyres and containers. Extensive rat control activity has also been carried out.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautionary measures to prevent seasonal diseases including the elimination of stagnant water in and around their homes, maintaining proper sanitation, and avoiding consumption of uncovered or street food.
The use of mosquito repellents, wearing full-sleeved clothing, and storing drinking water safely are being strongly recommended in order to prevent vector-borne diseases. The civic body has ramped up public awareness by holding health camps in the city.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
UK MPs vote to decriminalise abortion amid concerns over prosecution of women; what does current law say?
British MPs on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales after a lawmaker argued that it was cruel to prosecute women for ending a pregnancy. The House of Commons approved an amendment to a broader crime bill that would prevent women from being criminally punished under an antiquated law. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi introduced one of the amendments. She said that the change was required because police have investigated more than 100 women for suspected illegal abortions over the past five years, including some who suffered natural miscarriages and stillbirths. 'This piece of legislation will only take women out of the criminal justice system because they are vulnerable and they need our help,' the Labour MP said. 'Just what public interest is this serving? This is not justice; it is cruelty, and it has got to end,' he added. The amendment put forward by Antoniazzi passed with the support of 379 lawmakers, while 137 voted against it. The House of Commons will now need to pass the crime bill, which is expected, before it goes to the House of Lords, where it can be delayed but not blocked. The amendment came following growing calls demanding change in the law as the number of women investigated, arrested or prosecuted has increased in recent years. The framework of access to an abortion, which includes the requirement for two doctors' signatures and the time limits at which terminations can be carried out, will remain the same, The Guardian reported. Doctors who act outside the law will still face the threat of prosecution. Live Events But women who terminate their pregnancy outside the rules, for instance, after the time limit or by buying pills online, will no longer face arrest or prison. What does the current law say According to the prevailing law, doctors can legally conduct abortions in England, Scotland and Wales up to 24 weeks and beyond that under special circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is in danger. Abortion in Northern Ireland was decriminalised in 2019. The law saw changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women were allowed to receive abortion pills through the mail and terminate their own pregnancies at home within the first 10 weeks. That has led to a handful of widely publicised cases in which women were prosecuted for illegally obtaining abortion pills and using them to end their own pregnancies after 24 weeks or more. Anti-abortion groups, who were against the measures, argued that it would open the door to abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
City records three new Covid cases
Three new Covid-positive cases were reported in the city on Tuesday. The cases include a 47-year-old woman from Viram Khand in Gomtinagar, a 21-year-old man from Rashmi Khand in Shardanagar and a 35-year- old man from Vikasnagar. The city has recorded 38 Covid cases so far, out of which 23 are currently active.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Air India crash: 163 of 241 victims identified; 124 bodies handed over to families
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The process of matching the DNAs of the 241 passengers on the ill-fated London-bound Air India flight that crashed into BJ Medical College, as well as those who perished on the ground, is almost profiling was needed as the bodies were charred beyond recognition. DNA samples of 163 deceased individuals have been successfully matched. According to Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi, 124 bodies have been handed over to the families so 21 more families are expected to come forward soon to claim the mortal remains of their relatives. According to Joshi, of the 71 patients admitted to the hospital at the time of the accident, two have passed away. Of the remaining 69 patients, 42 have been discharged, one patient is in critical condition, and the others are still under treatment. Of the 30 medical students who were admitted, only one is still in Kapadia, Specialist Medical Officer at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital , said that, "the bodies were brought to the hospital after the accident on June 12. Our team immediately began post-mortem at 4:30 pm and kept working through the night without a pause.""During this 12 and a half hours, we completed the post-mortem of most of the bodies and collected DNA samples of nearly all, except for eight cases where the samples were not required," he the plane crash, five expert microbiologist teams were formed to complete the process of sample collection for DNA matching to identify the bodies, while a separate unit was set up to ensure arrangements like seating, clean drinking water, and refreshments for the grieving relatives and visitors. A team of psychiatrists and counsellors has been deployed to provide psychological support to the families during these traumatic times. A first aid team is also on standby to address emergencies caused by shock or 140 experienced doctors from four districts were mobilised to perform post-mortems, starting from 4:30 pm on June 12 that continued until 5:00 am on June 13. According to the state government, most of these 140 doctors have considerable experience, having performed more than 5,000 post-mortems on an average in their careers. Mahesh Kapadia himself has performed over 18,000 post-mortems and has dealt with numerous disasters - from the Ahmedabad serial blasts to the Covid-19 crisis.
