Mumbai: 12 die of leptospirosis infection

Mumbai, Jul 8: Twelve people have died of leptospirosis infection in the city in the last seven days, a civic official said today.

Out of a total 21 cases reported in civic-run hospitals in last seven days, 12 people in Mumbai lost their lives due to complications arising out of leptospirosis, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health) Sanjay Deshmukh said.

The disease spreads through Leptospirae bacteria from animals to humans.

"Leptospirosis spreads when the urine of a dog or rat infected by the disease and comes in contact with human skin," the official said.

Most of the victims were from the city's Borivali, Kandivali, Malad and Malvani areas where there was heavy water logging due to rains on June 18 and 19, according to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

"Out of the 12 victims, seven died within 24 hours of their admission to hospitals. The deceased included 10 men and two women. Eight of them had waded through flooded water," Deshmukh said.

PTI