The southern and central wards of Mumbai are now battling rain-related illnesses like malaria with a rise in cases reported across key wards. Authorities attributed this to the fact that most of the homes in the slums remain inaccessible to the authorities while several construction sites have been closed since the lockdown was announced. This suggests that there are several mosquito hotspots across the city right now.
It is said that the majority of the cases are being reported from G-South, G-North, and E Wards, even as some of these wards continue to battle with the coronavirus infection. One of the primary concerns for the officials is that the city’s health infrastructure may crumble with a spike in rain-related illnesses like malaria.
It was recently reported that despite a rise of cases in malaria, July saw no deaths from the disease, suggesting that the state and civic authorities had done a decent job in curbing the menace of monsoon-related diseases. However, it is now evident that the spike in cases of malaria could prove to be a major concern for civic authorities in Mumbai. Officials are also concerned given that the forecast for the next few days suggests heavy rainfall in parts of the city.
Speaking to TOI, Chief Of Insecticide Department, Rajan Naringrekar, said - “People have filled their drums, buckets and left homes. It has led to breeding of Anopheles and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that cause malaria and dengue. Also, water-logging at empty construction sites too is becoming a problem. There are odd articles usually lying there which have to be emptied frequently when it's raining. But because of the rain, none of that is happening,” while adding that the dedicated teams are unable to perform vector control activities are unable to enter into homes as most of them are shut at this point.
Also Read - Ahead Of Monsoon, BMC Conducts A Drive To Clear Mosquito Breeding Grounds
Assistant Commissioner of the G North ward, Kiran Dighavkar mentioned that he hasn’t been told of problems with regard to access to homes. However, as per on the ground sources mostly comprising of health volunteers, several homes in slum areas are still shut.
Even the doctors in Mumbai agree that they have seen a spike in malaria in terms of monsoon related illnesses but the state maintains that there are no casualties due to monsoon related illness.
Also read - Mumbai Sees Over 300 Cases Of Malaria, BMC Takes Action
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