The onset of monsoon brings with itself several mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, gastrointestinal and liver infections, respiratory and skin diseases, with the primary cause being contamination of water and food.
According to Dr Suman Singh, Director of Health Services, Chandigarh Administration, several activities to control breeding are underway across the city, be it house-to-house surveys for water stagnation, collection of unclean water, leakage in water pipes etc.
“So far, apart from flu cases, only two cases of dengue have been reported in Chandigarh. Sprays for mosquito control and fogging have also been started,” Singh said, adding that show-cause notices and challans are being issued to offices, establishments, buildings who do not adhere to measures to control mosquito breeding.
Dr Rakesh Kochhar, former head, department of gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, explained that waterborne intestinal infections occur due to mixing of faeces and urine of humans and animals with drinking water, be it ground water or tap water supply, or food. Such infections include cholera, typhoid, bacillary dysentery, E. coli infection, and viral gastroenteritis.
“These infections can cause diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting with or without fever. Partaking roadside cut fruit or street food and juice or other liquids can cause gastroenteritis. In a hot and humid climate bacteria in dairy products, poultry and meats can multiply rapidly, causing serious illness,” he explained.
Contaminated water can also cause jaundice due to hepatitis A and E viruses, while malaria and dengue are spread by parasites transmitted through mosquitoes which multiply in stagnant water.
Kochhar suggested avoiding roadside juice, shakes, cut fruit and chutney, undercooked and stale food, foods with cream, curd, cheese and mayonnaise, and chicken, fish and meat which is not stored at a proper temperature.
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“If a person has a high fever or the fever that lasts beyond 48 hours, please consult a specialist. Ensure clean water for drinking, wash hands before eating food, eat fresh food, raw non-vegetarian food should be frozen, do not eat roadside cut fruit juices, shakes and smoothies. Have oral rehydration solution, packaged lassi, coconut water, boiled water and have vaccination for typhoid and Hepatitis A,” Kochhar recommended.
