Unlike erstwhile years, the prolonged monsoon play has been a large contributing factor.
Mumbai has witnessed a emergence successful Chikungunya cases this year, with implicit 578 infections recorded betwixt January and October, marking the highest numbers successful 3 years. This surge has raised concerns among wellness officials and doctors, who are calling for urgent measures to curb the dispersed of the disease.
Data from BMC showed that successful 2022, lone 18 cases were reported, which roseate sharply to 250 successful 2023. However, 2024 has seen an adjacent larger spike, with 578 cases reported by October.
“Chikungunya cases person been steadily expanding owed to favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes,” said Dr. Mohan Joshi, Dean of Sion Hospital. “What’s worrying is that galore of these patients are presenting with terrible symptoms similar debilitating associated pain, fever, and musculus aches, and respective person required hospitalisation.”
Chikungunya is simply a viral illness transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which are progressive during the daytime. Common symptoms see precocious fever, aggravated associated pain, musculus aches, headache, tegument rashes, and fatigue. In terrible cases, associated symptom tin persist for months, affecting regular activities.
Unlike erstwhile years, the prolonged monsoon play has been a large contributing factor. Intermittent rains person near stagnant h2o successful places specified arsenic operation sites, discarded containers, and tarpaulin sheets.
“Construction sites crossed the metropolis are a large concern,” said a elder authoritative from the BMC. “Unattended h2o stagnation successful these areas has created a haven for Aedes mosquitoes. It’s important for contractors and residents to instrumentality work and guarantee due hygiene to forestall mosquito breeding.”
Doctors study that Chikungunya betterment has been unusually dilatory this year, affecting the prime of beingness of patients for extended periods. Dr. Gautam Bhansali, Consultant Physician astatine Bombay Hospital, explained, “In younger patients, betterment typically takes 10 to 12 days, but this twelvemonth we’re seeing galore adults and aged patients endure from lingering symptoms for up to 2 months. Joint symptom and fatigue are the astir persistent complaints.”
Despite these figures, wellness experts accidental Chikungunya is preventable with corporate efforts. “People indispensable instrumentality proactive measures to destruct mosquito breeding spots astir their homes and workplaces,” said Dr. Bhansali. “Even tiny steps similar covering h2o containers, cleaning drains, and utilizing mosquito repellents tin marque a immense difference.”