The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data revealed that the city has seen a 44 per cent rise in the number of gastroenteritis or stomach flu cases in April compared to previous month.
As per reports, the city reported 31 cases of gastro per day in April on an average. It is pertinent to note that most of these are caused by consumption of contaminated food or water.
Even in private hospitals, there has been a spike of 20 per cent in patient visits in April compared to the previous month.
According to recent statistics released by Apollo spectra Hospital in Mumbai, approximately 15 adults and 25 children have been diagnosed with gastro/stomach flu in the last two months. These numbers might escalate further as temperatures soar and the consumption of outside food becomes more prevalent.
Stressing upon the reason behind this spike, Dr Vibhor Borkar, Pediatrics Gastroenterologist, shared with Mumbai Live: “The primary culprit behind this sudden spike appears to be the consumption of food and beverages from roadside eateries, alongside contaminated food and water sources. Contamination can occur at various stages, including food preparation, storage, or simply by consuming food with unwashed or unclean hands.”
It is pertinent to note that Gastroenteritis trend has been steadily on the rise from January when 536 cases were reported. This further surged by approximately 14.18 per cent to 612 in February.
Meanwhile, March saw a slight increase of about 4.08 per cent, bringing the count to 637 cases. However, the most notable surge occurred in April, with a remarkable spike of 43.81 per cent to 916 cases.
Giving a comparative analysis, Borkar said: “This year has witnessed a dramatic increase in gastro/stomach flu cases, attributed largely to the sweltering heatwave gripping the city. The contrast with the pandemic-induced lockdown period is evident with the gradual easing of restrictions over the past years, individuals have resumed their daily routines, including travel, vacations, and dining out.”
As Mumbai braces itself for the challenges ahead with scorching heat, health officials emphasise the critical importance of preventive measures such as maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding outside food whenever feasible, and ensuring vigilant food handling and storage practices. This is to mitigate the risk of bacterial and germ-related illnesses, stressing the need for maintaining rigorous food hygiene practices.
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