Six ‘scattered’ cholera cases, BMC ‘not worried’

As Mumbai takes a break from the monsoon, the incidence of waterborne diseases is rising. While seven people have died of leptospirosis and 97 cases of suspected leptospirosis have been reported and six cases of cholera were diagnosed in July. The six cholera patients are under treatment in municipal hospitals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) public health department has informed.

Three of the six cases are from Nagpada and Kurla (E ward), while the others have been reported from Mulund (T ward) and Dana Bandar (B ward). One of the cholera cases is from Byculla Jail in

Three of the 6 cases are from Nagpada and Kurla (E ward), while the others have been reported from Mulund (T ward) and Dana Bandar (B ward). One of the cholera cases is from Byculla Jail in B ward. It was after the detection of this case that the BMC had administered doxycycline as a precautionary measure to inmates and staff

B ward. It was after the detection of this case that the BMC had administered doxycycline as a precautionary measure to inmates and staff. It will be recalled, 103 inmates were rushed to JJ Hospital after they complained of diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea.

According to civic officials, the six cases detected are "mild" cases of cholera —-- a water-borne ailment occurring in the monsoon. But officials are not worried, yet.

A BMC official from the epidemiology cell said, “There may be three cases in E ward, but these are scattered. Their localities are different and they do not belong to the same cluster. The source of water is also different. As all six cases are from varied areas there is no need to worry about an outbreak of disease in a particular area.”

The cases this year are significantly high, especially for last month. There were no cholera cases detected in June. In July 2017, only one person was diagnosed with cholera in Mumbai.