Hepatitis E is among the rarest strain of the virus, which causes inflammation of liver. It is spread through consumption of contaminated water and food.
Wednesday was an unmemorable day for the family of Mayank Goyel, a resident of Goregaon (West), when all of them suffered chronic vomiting and infective diarrhoea, while his youngest daughter Sandhya tested positive for hepatitis E.
But doctors say the 12-year-old is not the only one battling the infectious disease in the city.
Hepatitis E is among the rarest strain of the virus, which causes inflammation of liver. It is spread through consumption of contaminated water and food.
Doctors hint the sudden spurt of the disease could be related to contaminated water supply.
Parts of the city, largely the western suburbs and parts of South Mumbai, have been receiving yellow-coloured water since December-end.
Dr Hemant Thakkar, a physician attached to Breach Candy and Jaslok hospital, confirmed that the uncommon strain of hepatitis is spreading through the city. “Usually, the hepatitis A and B strains are most prevalent,” he said.
The last time Mumbai witnessed an outbreak of this strain was eight years ago. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was then carrying out drainage repair work at Tardeo and Malabar Hill.
Moreover, not just hepatitis E, but a cluster of monsoon related ailments have surged this winter. “If we gauge the trend over last year, diseases show a decline between January and March. But this time, monsoon related ailments are on an upswing in the winter season,” Thakkar added. Cases of infectious diarrhoea are increasing, which is triggering typhoid and cholera. Doctors claim that there is 40% rise in monsoon diseases.
The civic body, however, rubbished the claims. Dr Daksha Shah, head of epidemiology cell, BMC, said, “Though there is a definite surge in diarrhoea cases, it is not all that unusual. It can be contained within a week’s time. The cases are sporadic, and not from one particular region. Besides, the cases could also be due to unhygienic conditions. We are looking at the water samples.”
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