New gastro bug in Mumbai?

Mumbaikars from multiple wards have lodged complaints about receiving contaminated water from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the past week. Some have even said there are worms.

The issue gained attention when filmmaker Hansal Mehta took to social media to complain about a severe stomach infection, suspecting the municipal corporation's drinking water as the cause.

In response to his tweet, the BMC stated that they have not detected any indications of water contamination. However, as a precautionary measure, a water sample has been sent to a laboratory for testing.

Mehta, who resides in Bandra West, told mid-day, "On Wednesday, I consumed a lot of water without eating anything else. I have two filters - one is a water dispenser, and the other is an RO filter. At some point during the day, I started feeling extremely uneasy, experiencing severe nausea, fatigue, and diarrhoea."

In May and June, 1,264 and 1,744 gastroenteritis cases respectively were recorded. Representation pic

A doctor from a charitable trust-run private hospital in Bandra reported an increase in patients complaining about stomach infections. She stated, "We are now receiving at least two patients a day and have admitted 15 so far. Cases of stomach diseases caused by contaminated water are rapidly rising."

On the other hand, Dr Nilesh Pavle, the medical officer of health (MOH) for the ward, claimed that not a single case of infection due to water contamination had been reported during the monsoon season. Once the health department at the ward level becomes aware of a case, they conduct surveys in their designated areas to determine if there have been additional instances of infection due to water contamination. Dr Pavle explained, "Every day, we collect drinking water samples from various areas to ensure quality assurance."

Vaibhav Vishal, a resident of Kohinoor City in Kurla (W), under L ward, shared that a few days ago, residents in his building discovered worms in their tap water. Health officials from L ward confirmed cases of infection in Kurla (W) where water contamination was suspected. They dispatched staff from their health post to survey approximately 500 surrounding houses.

A building in Juhu has also been affected by the problem, with one resident falling ill for the past week. Karan Vyas stated, "I have experienced nausea, stomach aches, and diarrhoea. There are several others in my building who are sick with similar symptoms, and we strongly believe that contaminated water is the cause."

In south and central

In the south and central parts of Mumbai, a doctor from a BMC-run clinic in Lower Parel shared that many patients have visited with gastroenteritis, but it is too early to confirm water contamination as the cause. She explained, "Gastroenteritis cases are prevalent during the monsoon, but we need to examine the water's purity to determine the cause."

From July 1 to July 10, Mumbai reported 474 cases of gastroenteritis. In May and June, there were 1,264 and 1,744 cases, respectively. An 82-year-old woman named Dolly Khambatta in Tardeo experienced prolonged stomach discomfort in June. She suspected water contamination, stating, "I had symptoms such as body pain, weakness, and diarrhoea. It got to the point where I needed to undergo a colonoscopy."

Dr Vinay Dhir, a gastroenterologist at SL Raheja Hospital, explained that in gastroenteritis, bacteria enter the intestines and cause inflammation, leading to water excretion. "Hydration is crucial," he emphasised.

In Tardeo, Pappu Yadav, a resident of a slum, noticed worms in the water supplied by BMC for the first time in recent years. He said, "It happened a few days ago."
Madhuri Gautam, a resident of Sai Garden Chawl in Dharavi, sought help at the nearby HBT clinic due to persistent and severe stomach problems over three nights. Despite the doctor's recommendation of installing an RO filter, Gautam expressed her financial constraints preventing her from affording one.

Dr B R Kawale, MOH of G-ward, where Dharavi is located, stated, "All BMC pipelines are underground, which can lead to contamination in case of leaks." He mentioned that they recently received cases of infection due to water contamination, but they were contained.

473
Gastroenteritis cases between July 1 and 10

BMC's health department records an alarming increase in waterborne disease

According to BMC's health department data for May and June, there were 501 and 676 cases of malaria, 66 and 97 cases of leptospirosis, 119 and 353 cases of dengue, 1,264 and 1,744 cases of gastroenteritis, 63 and 141 cases of hepatitis, 4 and 8 cases of chikungunya, and 62 and 90 cases of H1N1, respectively.

Comparing these numbers to June last year, the corresponding figures were 348, 12, 39, 543, 64, 1, and 2, respectively. In the first 10 days of July, the city witnessed 156 cases of malaria, 29 cases of leptospirosis, 91 cases of dengue, 474 cases of gastroenteritis, 34 cases of hepatitis, 5 cases of chikungunya, and 34 cases of H1N1.