Be it swine flu or Ebola, infectious disease experts say the country's financial capital has all the makings of falling in the high-risk category.
Be it swine flu or Ebola, infectious disease experts say the country's financial capital has all the makings of falling in the high-risk category.
The city has been lucky and safe so far with Ebola and MERS, but health experts say having a large national and international floating population, overcrowded pockets, and appropriate weather for viruses to flourish make the city live on the edge of pandemic.
Dr Om Srivastava, director, department of infectious diseases, who is in-charge of the acute care centre at Jaslok Hospital, said, "Infectious diseases can spread via air, water or food. To prevent this, we need to stay healthy and follow hygiene. In case you are down with something infectious, stay home and follow hygiene, so that the chain of infection is broken."
Doctors say children, pregnant women, senior citizens, the diabetic and those having hypertension or immunosuppression are more vulnerable to air-borne infection.
With respect to contagious diseases like SARS, MERS and swine flu, those who have an underlying problem of respiratory diseases fall in the high-risk category.
Dr Jalil Parker, chest physician at Lilavati Hospital, said, "The city not only sees more people with respiratory tract illness, but the number having co-morbid factors (diabetes and hypertension), which puts more people in the high-risk category, is also large. Taking medical help at the right time and not engaging in self-medication is vital."
Due to change in weather, Mumbaikars, who are prone to respiratory diseases, are already having a tough time, according to doctors, as many are coming to them with asthma attacks and upper respiratory tract infections.
Seeing the city's vulnerability to influenza, health experts suggest vaccination. While a few doctors recommend going for annual vaccination, others think it is not that important. Srivastava said, "A person who has got at least three episodes of upper respiratory tract infection should definitely visit a doctor and get evaluated. S/he should either boost his/her immunity or go for vaccination."
2015's worrying numbers
Mumbai: 150 swine flu cases and nine deaths
Maharashtra: 530 swine flu cases and 72 deaths
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}