Mumbai : Mumbai has witnessed a worrying spike in mosquito-borne illnesses over the past fortnight, prompting urgent action from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Dengue cases have jumped by 58%, leptospirosis by 79%, and malaria by nearly 46% compared to last year’s figures.
The city reported 426 dengue cases in the last 15 days alone, taking the year’s total to 1,160. Leptospirosis saw 108 new cases between July 16 and 31, while malaria cases reached 4,151 by the end of July—1,299 more than the same period in 2024.
Chikungunya cases have also seen a startling increase, rising from 46 last year to 265 this year. However, a slight dip was recorded in gastroenteritis cases, with 5,128 infections compared to 5,439 last year.
Health officials attribute the surge to intermittent rainfall that created breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
In response, BMC has launched a citywide “Zero Mosquito Breeding” campaign, targeting municipal hospitals, government buildings, and residential areas. Between July 1 and 31, over 14.39 lakh homes were surveyed and nearly 70 lakh people screened for fever. More than 2.31 lakh blood samples were taken for contact tracing.
Inspections uncovered over 29,800 dengue breeding spots and led to the removal of nearly 87,000 mosquito-prone items like old tyres and containers. Fogging operations covered over 52,000 buildings and 8.16 lakh hutments.
Citizens are urged to eliminate stagnant water, use mosquito repellents or nets, and avoid self-medication. Additional precautions include drinking boiled water, avoiding street food, and maintaining COVID-19 hygiene practices.
The BMC emphasized that community participation is key to combating the rise in monsoon-related illnesses.
