M'rashtra leptospirosis toll rises to 93

Of these 93, 58 people have died in Mumbai and 35 in Thane. 906 more people were admitted to hospitals with similar complaints.

The death toll due to suspected leptospirosis and other water-borne ailments in flood and rain-ravaged Mumbai and adjoining Thane district mounted to 93 on Friday even as 906 more people were admitted to hospitals here with similar complaints.

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Of the 93 people -- 58 in Mumbai and 35 in Thane -- who lost lives, health authorities confirmed three deaths in Thane of rat fever and nine rat fever patients admitted in hospitals for treatment. But there was still no official confirmation of rat fever deaths in Mumbai.

Mumbai's Joint Municipal Commissioner Manukumar Srivastav said that there were 81 suspected leptospirosis cases admitted to hospitals while there was one death each due to Malaria and gastro.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh visited several hospitals in northern Mumbai and later told reporters that the situation was under control and there was no epidemical situation in the metropolis.

A Central team headed by Director General (Health), Dr S K Agrawal visited Mumbai on Friday and toured disease-hit regions, besides holding a meeting with the Chief Minister. The team brought along diagnostic kits for leptospirosis as there is no such facility available in Mumbai.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has drawn 71 more doctors of private medical colleges from Mumbai and outside to augment its health force to fight the fever and water-borne diseases, sources said.