Dengue-threat looms large over Mumbai

Outbreak of mosquito-borne disease Dengue is looming large over Mumbai, as the city has recorded a spurt in the number of dengue cases ahead of the monsoon season.

Mumbai, June 5 : Outbreak of mosquito-borne disease Dengue is looming large over Mumbai, as the city has recorded a spurt in the number of dengue cases ahead of the monsoon season.

Hospitals in the suburbs of the metropolis have reported a large number of fever cases; many of them diagnosed dengue hemorrhagic fever.

There is an alarming rise in the number of fever cases suspected to be dengue in Mira-Bhayandar municipality area of Mumbai, blaming on poor sanitation.

"Mosquitoes breed because of stagnant water and garbage that has piled up everywhere and this leads to the onset of diseases like dengue," said Dr. Ravi Patil of Sai Ashirwad Hospital.

"First of all, water is polluted, the surroundings are dirty, you can see that there is no hygiene and on top of it the monsoons are going to set in," said Vine, a dengue patient.

People living in shanties were mainly susceptible to the disease, because of poor sanitation.

"Because there is a lot of garbage around, all kinds of diseases are spreading," said Santosh Yadav, a water supply tanker assistant.

The city had been reporting dengue and other water-borne diseases every year during the post-monsoon period.

Dengue fever is an acute febrile disease, found in the tropical region. It spreads by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Open storm, drains and water-logging were the major factors contributing to breeding of mosquitoes, the cause of dengue.

The disease spreads during the rainy season and is manifested by a sudden fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains.

ANI