Scanty rain leads to rise in Monsoon illnesses in Mumbai

New Delhi, Tuesday. August 21, The prevailing warm and humid weather conditions over Mumbai during the first two weeks of August have led to rise in cases of fever and flu-like-illnesses. There have been over 4,521 admissions in civic hospitals due to fever this month while private physicians have been treating at least 3-5 such cases in their OPDs for the last few days.

During this period, cases of Malaria and dengue are also witnessing a rising trend. Over 1100 cases of Malaria and 51 cases of confirmed Dengue have been reported during the month of August. The past two months have recorded 2863 cases of Malaria.

Gastroenteritis and jaundice have also been a worry for Mumbaikars. The BMC's epidemiology cell has recorded 824 cases of gastro, 109 cases of jaundice and 36 of typhoid this month. As the heat and rains continue in the city, these cases are expected to go up in the next few days.

Mumbai receives most of its rain from the moist southwesterly winds added with a low pressure area or a cyclonic circulation originated over the Arabian Sea but this time around the Arabian Sea has failed to evolve such system till now. The seasonal offshore trough along the Maharashtra coast to Kerala coast also remained weak during most part of August this year leading to rise in humidity and warmness.