Leptospirosis claims its fifth victim this monsoon

MUMBAI : Leptospirosis claimed its fifth victim in Mumbai this monsoon. An 18-year-old girl from Govandi died last week, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal

MUMBAI : Leptospirosis claimed its fifth victim in Mumbai this monsoon. An 18-year-old girl from Govandi died last week, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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The girl was admitted to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, on August 1 after she developed fever and vomiting, but succumbed to the infection five days later.

Leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria present in the urine of animals such as rats, dogs and cattle. People get infected when they wade through flooded streets.

The bacteria can enter the body through open wounds. The number of cases go up during monsoons because of flooding.

This monsoon, five leptospirosis deaths have been reported by the BMC.

Civic officials said the number of deaths this monsoon have been fewer than last year.

“We had recorded around 16 leptospirosis deaths last year, however this year, there have only been five such cases. Maybe because there has been less water logging this year,” said a civic official.

Last year, 43 cases of leptospirosis were reported in the first week of August as compared to 18 cases this year.