Rain pain: Water, vector-borne diseases on rise

Watch out! Monsoon has brought its share of travails and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) fears a rise in both vector- and water-borne diseases.

According to health experts in the civic body, there is a likelihood of fresh cases of dengue and malaria as mosquitoes get new breeding grounds. Water-borne diseases are also likely to see a spike, said Dr Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical officer of health. “Humidity has led to an outbreak in swine flu cases. Last week, a patient with H1N1 died. This takes the total fatalities owing to swine flu this year to 16,” added Solanki.

A total 379 cases of swine flu have been reported till July 15, out of malaria accounts for 369. Last week, the first chikungunya case of the month was reported and four new dengue cases were reported too. Totally, three cases of falciparum, six cases of dengue and one case of chikungunya have been reported this month, till July 15. Dengue cases have decreased compared to the corresponding period last year. In July 2016, 102 cases of dengue cases were reported.

In case of water-borne cases, the first cholera case was reported last week from Maninagar. According to Solanki, the medical team has inspected the area and no other cholera case has been detected from the same pocket.

The city has reported 654 cases of gastroenteritis, 139 cases of jaundice, 178 cases of typhoid, taking the tally of water-borne cases till July 15 to 972.