Killed 3 in September last year, claimed 22 last month

There was no major flooding in September, and yet leptospirosis claimed 22 lives in the city. According to figures released by the health department of BMC, there has been a steep rise in leptospirosis deaths — from three in September last year to 22 this time.

However, there was no notable increase in the number of cases — 261 contacted lepto in September last year, while 274 got admitted to civic hospitals last month.

Fifty-three died of various water-borne diseases last month, whereas September 06 saw 35.

Interestingly, dengue death count has come down from five last year to two this time. 

BMC chief Jairaj Phatak said, “We have sent out instructions to all ward offices regarding special measures to control water-borne diseases.”

BMC is yet to pinpoint the exact reason for the spurt in lepto deaths, but has cited rat, cattle and stray dog menace as possible causes. Phatak confessed that the large number of vacancies in the posts of rat killers needed urgent attention.

“Advanced diagnosis at the molecular diagnostic laboratory at Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli, set up before monsoon this year, could have also led to attributing quite a few deaths to leptospirosis,” said a civic official.

The health department has cranked up door-to-door surveillance to identify people exhibiting symptoms of water-borne diseases.

Phatak said that a public awareness programme had been relaunched to prevent the spread of diseases. Meanwhile, civic hospitals recorded two more deaths, both due to malaria, in the past 24 hours.