Dirty puddles everywhere; malaria, dengue, other diseases follow rains

As rain brings relief to Delhiites from the high temperatures, the Capital also needs to prepare itself to handle vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.

So far, 15 dengue cases and seven cases of malaria have been reported, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). With the onset of monsoon, the number of cases is likely to increase. Last year, 995 dengue cases were reported. There were three deaths reported due to dengue.

“During monsoon, the three most common diseases that people are at risk from are dengue, malaria, chikungunya. The common sources of breeding ground are mostly known to people. It is important that along with civic bodies, people also take care in eliminating breeding grounds of mosquitoes,” says Dr Anil Goswami, Assistant Professor, Health Education, AIIMS.

Stagnant water is the most common breeding ground of mosquitoes. Besides water bodies, puddles near households, office buildings, hospitals, air coolers in which water is not regularly changed, containers kept open for long are mosquito breeding grounds.
The civic bodies need to intensify checks near households to eliminate potential breeding grounds.

“When we hold meetings with the civic bodies, we emphasise it is equally important to educate the masses on the common causes of vector-borne diseases and how these can be controlled. Citizens’ participation is important to achieve zero tolerance to malaria and dengue,” says a senior official of the Health Department. Hospitals should take extra care in eliminating mosquito breeding grounds from their campuses.

Last year, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had issued challans to leading hospitals like AIIMS, RML, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge over irregularities.
This year, no hospital has been issued any challan so far, confirmed a senior NDMC official in the health department. “We are also coordinating with the NDMC schools regularly to educate children so that they can make their parents aware in turn,” says the official.

But people are at risk not just from vector-borne diseases during this season.
“Water-borne diseases are common from food and water contamination. Outbreaks of such diseases are also common in the monsoon. Parents should take care that children are eating hygienic food. Another common cause of diarrhoea is due to sewage contamination,” says Dr Saroja Balan, paediatrician at Apollo Hospitals. One should also have plenty of fluids during the rains.

During this season, food from stalls which have low hygiene standards should be avoided.  Food should be stored in good containers to avoid contamination. In cases, where the infection is severe, the patient should immediately see a doctor, according to experts.

Flu, infections abound

There is also a chance for people to suffer from flu. “This can be any kind of flu, like influenza, swine flu. During monsoon, people are equally vulnerable to these diseases as during the winter months. Children prone to asthma are also vulnerable to increased asthma attacks,” says Dr Balan.

Viral and fungal infections are common with the onset of monsoon.  “The humidity and rain make it easier for infections to be carried from one person to the other. Those with weak immunity system are at a higher risk. Viral fever and eye infections like conjunctivitis or pink eye are common in this weather,” says Dr D S Chadha, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital.

“Fungal infections are caused on the folds of the skin like armpits and the space between toes which often retain moisture. With humidity, these spots become ideal grounds for such infections,” says Dr Chadha.

The other common disease in monsoon is leptospirosis which is caused by walking in dirty water. It is important to avoid walking in dirty water and to also take bath once home.

Take precautions

 To avoid water-borne diseases, one should wear full-sleeved clothes. The use of mosquito repellents and mosquito nets is a must at night, according to experts.

The surroundings of the house should be kept clean and puddle-free. The civic bodies also need to conduct intensify checks in colonies lacking high hygienic standards.

“The most vulnerable points are areas with poor sanitation, poor hygiene, poor quality water supply and water stagnation and colonies where people are not aware of these diseases,” says Dr Chadha. Roadside vendors selling cut fruit and drinks, and unreliable outlets selling eatables should be avoided.

The civic bodies have found over 34,000 households positive for mosquito breeding this year. Over 35,000 legal notices have been issued to offices and households for mosquitogenic conditions.

In 836 cases, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has initiated legal action against offenders for not clearing breeding grounds of mosquitoes.