Mumbai: Vector-borne diseases surged across the city in July, with malaria and dengue cases more than doubling and a spike recorded in leptospirosis and gastrointestinal infections compared with the previous month.In June, cases stood at 655 for malaria, 266 for dengue, 7 for chikungunya, 33 for leptospirosis and 603 for gastro. In July, the reported cases increased to 1,380 for malaria, 466 for dengue, 7 for chikungunya, 78 for leptospirosis, 851 for gastro, 58 for COVID-19 and 105 for H1N1.Malaria followed a similar trend as last year, while there has been a fall in reported dengue cases. An increase in malaria cases is being observed in the following wards: E Ward (Byculla, Madanpura, Mazgaon), K-West Ward (Andheri, Nehru Nagar, Amboli), G-South Ward (BDD Chawl, Sasmira), F-South Ward (Parel, Bhoiwada, Sewri) and H-West Ward (Hill Road, Turner Road, Perry Cross Road).Meanwhile, an increase in lepto cases is seen in the F-North Ward (Bharatiya Kamla Nagar, Sangam Nagar, GTB Nagar), M-East Ward (Bharat Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Shivaji Nagar), T Ward (Gautam Nagar, Dargah Road, Ambika Nagar), K-East Ward (Nani Mamoo Chawl, Saki Naka, Chakala MIDC) and G-North Ward (Dharavi).BMC health department officials said surveillance teams surveyed over 6.5 lakh households in July, provided preventive antibiotic treatment for lepto to 51,000 residents and carried out vector and rodent control operations, tracing and destroying mosquito breeding sources. A total of 42,284 buildings were fogged for mosquito control and 3,406 rats were caught.
