Four more die due to monsoon-related diseases

Mumbai, Aug 7 (UNI) Four more people have died due to monsoon-related diseases in the city, taking the toll to 99 since the onset of monsoon this year.

Two people died due to fever, each in Kasturba and Sion hospitals, and 2 died due to leptospirosis in King Edward Memorial hospital.

Three of the deceased were youths in their early 20s, whereas one was a teenager. Many youths have died this year due to diseases.

Speaking on the youths dying due to monsoon-related diseases, Health Officer J Thanekar today said ''The men are more vulnerable to diseases because they have to go out for work and the teenagers are affected as they go to colleges and work.'' He said the affected people do not take the diseases seriously and they start treatment only after the diseases reach advanced stage.

He said the affected do not undergo proper investigation for fever and often undergo wrong treatment as there are many different kinds of monsoon-related diseases.

Mr Thanekar said that many people who died at the civic hospitals were undergoing treatment at private hospitals and due to wrong treatment they succumbed to the disease.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Kishore Gajbeye said ''The Corporation is doing its best but has its limitations as it can work only in the public domain and not in private places, where mosquitoes breed the most due to non-cleaning.'' UNI