Leptospirosis health advisory issued by BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a health advisory for persons who were exposed to water-logging during heavy rainfall on Tuesday. Persons who were exposed to flood water are at a greater risk of developing Leptospirosis and other monsoon-related diseases, it said. The advisory has categorised the risk of infection as high, moderate and low, depending on exposure to flood waters.

An adult having no cut or wounds, and exposed only once to flood water falls under low risk, and needs a single dose of Doxycycline 200mg tablet to be taken within 24 to 72 hours of exposure.

Women with moderate risk can take the same medicine for three days. Similarly, pregnant women with low risk need to take Azithromycin 500 mg tablet once within 24 to 72 hours of exposure.

For children under 8 years of age, a single dose of Azithromycin 500 mg syrup has been suggested to be taken within 24 to 72 hours of exposure for low-risk category while the same medicine needs to be taken for three days for moderate risk.