The two victims, residents of Malad and Reay Road, were positive for malaria too
Two more Mumbaikars have died of leptospirosis, confirmed the health report released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday. According to the report, a 38-year-old man from Malad and a 40-year-old man from Reay Road succumbed to the infection on July 6 and July 8 respectively.
"Both the patients were found to be positive for both malaria and leptospirosis," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executibe health officer. Since July 1, 14 Mumbaikars have died due to leptospirosis infection. At present, 30 people are being treated for the disease in BMC-run hospitals. To prevent lepto, the corporation has started awareness campaign in which they have visited 14,649 houses and surveyed 57,736 people.
"We have carried out anti-rodent activities in 6,253 houses. We have sprayed disinfectant solution on four building premises, five chawls and three waterlogged spots," said Dr Keskar. The transmission of the disease from animals to humans occurs through Leptospirae bacteria. "When infected dog or rat urine mixes with water and the human skin comes in contact with such infected water, leptospirosis spreads in a population," said Dr Keskar.
Of the 14 deaths, 13 have occurred in the western suburbs of the city, namely Kandivli, Malad Malwani, Dahisar and Borivli.
According to doctors, the initial symptoms of leptospirosis infection include highly coloured urine, fever and muscle ache, which exacerbates into jaundice, drop in platelets and later a possible kidney failure.
BMC health officials said that most of these patients came late to the hospitals. "We need to diagnose the infection early to start the treatment within the initial three to five days after the onset of symptoms. A simple blood test and medication can render lepto curable, provided it is picked up early. Then chances of recovery of a patient are higher," said Dr Keskar.
Year Cases Deaths
2010 135 18
2011 141 6
2012 327 3
2013 233 3
2014 79 4
Leptospirosis spreads from animals to humans through 'Leptospirae' bacteria
The bacteria is found in urine/excreta of rats, mice, goats, sheep or other animals
It seeps into the human skin through such contaminated water, irrespective of the fact that the skin may have a cut/wound or not. The bacteria enters the micropores of the skin and gets into the blood stream and spreads the illness
Symptoms include high grade fever, body aches, rashes, liver swelling, nausea and drastic drop in platelet count
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