Lepto death toll at 10 till August as against seven in entire 2017

MUMBAI:THE city reported its first dengue and malaria deaths of this year in the first two weeks of August, officials from the public health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Thursday. However, with two more deaths during the period, the total number of leptospirosis deaths has reached 10 already so far as compared to seven in the whole of 2017. A 32-year-old woman from Ashok Nagar, Kurla, who died on July 24 was the first dengue casualty of the city this season. “The patient had symptoms such as fever with chills, body ache and stomach ache for four days and she took medicine from a local physician for three days. But as her symptoms did not subside she was rushed to a BMC hospital where she succumbed within 24 hours of admission,” said Dr Padmaja

Keskar, executive health officer. The first malaria death this year is of a 52-year-old from Worli, Koliwada. Doctors said the patient had a history of travelling to Alibaug, where he is likely to have been infected.

The two leptospirosis deaths were reported in Kandivli and Chembur. In Kandivli, a 25-yearold man had gone swimming, after which he had fever and body

ache. He took treatment from a local doctor and was shifted to two other hospitals before being referred to a BMC hospital. He died after four days of treatment.

A 50-year-old Chembur resident was diagnosed with leptospirosis after fever, headache and decreased urination. He had a history of walking through waterlogged areas and died on August 4.