Mumbai Witnesses Rise in Malaria, H1N1 Cases; Decline in Dengue, Leptospirosis in July 2024

Mumbai has seen a slight rise in malaria and H1N1 flu cases in July 2024, with 797 and 161 cases respectively, compared to the same month last year, according to the city civic body. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported this in its Monsoon-related diseases report on Wednesday.

In July 2024, Mumbai recorded 797 malaria cases and 161 H1N1 cases, up from 721 and 106 respectively in July 2023. However, there was a decline in dengue, leptospirosis, and gastroenteritis cases. Dengue cases dropped to 535 from 685, leptospirosis to 141 from 413, and gastroenteritis to 1239 from 1767.

Decline in Other Diseases

The report also noted a decrease in hepatitis and chikungunya cases. Hepatitis cases fell slightly to 146 from 144, while chikungunya cases decreased to 25 from 27 in the same period last year. The BMC's data highlights the varying trends of different diseases during the monsoon season.

To combat these diseases, the BMC conducted a house-to-house fever survey covering nearly 11.95 lakh households and about 55.80 lakh people in July 2024. During this survey, prophylaxis for leptospirosis was given to 84,116 individuals. Prophylaxis involves taking an antibiotic to lower the risk of bacterial infection.

Awareness Campaigns

The BMC has launched an awareness campaign called "Bhag Mosquito Bhag" featuring celebrities from Marathi and Hindi film industries. These celebrities will share messages advocating mosquito control measures through video clips. The campaign aims to raise awareness across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region about preventing diseases like malaria and dengue caused by mosquito bites.

The civic body also advised citizens to wear face masks and avoid crowded places to prevent H1N1, a respiratory disease. This advice is part of broader efforts to reduce the spread of infections during the monsoon season.

The BMC's proactive measures and awareness campaigns are crucial in managing public health during the monsoon season. By engaging celebrities and conducting extensive surveys, they aim to reduce the burden of mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory infections in Mumbai.