The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated the ‘Bhag Machchar Bhag’ campaign. This public health initiative aims to raise awareness about mosquito control measures and reduce the incidence of these diseases. According to the latest monsoon report released by the BMC, the first half of July saw a significant increase in cases of dengue, leptospirosis, and H1N1 compared to June 2024.
Dengue cases have particularly spiked, with 165 cases reported between July 1 and July 15, compared to 93 cases in June. Leptospirosis cases have also increased, rising from 28 in June to 52 in the first half of July. Similarly, H1N1 flu cases have jumped from 10 in June to 53 in the first half of July, indicating a worrying trend. The ‘Bhag Machchar Bhag’ campaign leverages short films and messages from celebrities in the Marathi and Hindi film industries to promote mosquito control measures. The BMC has urged citizens to take proactive steps, such as eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, using mosquito nets, and wearing protective clothing, to help mitigate the spread of these diseases.
A senior consultant in internal medicine at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, has reported seeing an average of five to six cases of dengue and H1N1 daily since last week. “There are vaccines available for both H1N1 and pneumonia. Taking these vaccines will help ward off these diseases, the basic symptoms of which are high-grade fever, body pain, and chills,” she said. The senior consultant also emphasised the importance of pneumonia vaccines, especially for citizens above 60 years with diabetes and other comorbidities, as dengue cases are expected to rise in August and September. An infectious diseases consultant at PD Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, has also observed a significant number of H1N1 and dengue cases. He noted that the affected age group is varied, with patients ranging from 18 to 82 years old. “The elderly are the worst affected, with some patients landing in the ICU with complications. Currently, we have three such patients, and we have not been able to take them off oxygen,” he reported.
In addition to vaccination, another Doctor advised taking precautions such as social distancing, wearing masks, maintaining proper hygiene, and preventing water stagnation near residential areas to reduce the risk of infection. The BMC’s ‘Bhag Machchar Bhag’ campaign is a critical initiative to combat the rising cases of mosquito-borne diseases in Mumbai. By promoting public awareness and encouraging preventive measures, the campaign aims to protect the health of the city’s residents and curb the spread of these illnesses during the monsoon season.
