Post by Tulameen on Aug 12, 2005 14:02:56 GMT -5
BBC NEWS
More than 80 people have died of water-borne diseases in the western Indian state of Maharashtra which was badly hit by floods two weeks ago.
Health officials say more than 5,000 people are suffering from high fever and cholera.
But they say that leptospirosis, a disease spread through rats, caused many of the deaths.
The floods killed more than 1,000 people and affected 20 million others in the state and its capital, Mumbai.
Reports say some hospitals are unable to cope with the flow of patients, with some lying on floors as beds run out.
"We're finding more and more cases of people with shooting fevers who are collapsing," senior health official P Doke is quoted as saying by AFP.
Piles of garbage
Leptospirosis is causes by exposure to water contaminated by rats urine, and outbreaks are known to occur in the monsoon season.
Health officials say they are concerned but there is no threat of an epidemic.
Residents in some of the flood-hit areas have clashed with civic officials, complaining that garbage in the areas had not been cleared and was spreading disease.
The authorities say they are doing their best to clean up.
Correspondents say most of the victims live in shantytowns where flood and sewage water had entered homes.
Some 300 medical teams have been sent across the state to combat the spread of disease.
Civic authorities and politicians were severely criticised after the recent flooding for failing to provide proper drainage systems and other flood protection measures.
Have you been affected by the floods in Maharashtra? Are you a health worker fighting the spread of disease or caring for the sick? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Do you have a picture to send? Email your pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4144402.stm
Published: 2005/08/12 16:42:30 GMT
© BBC MMV
More than 80 people have died of water-borne diseases in the western Indian state of Maharashtra which was badly hit by floods two weeks ago.
Health officials say more than 5,000 people are suffering from high fever and cholera.
But they say that leptospirosis, a disease spread through rats, caused many of the deaths.
The floods killed more than 1,000 people and affected 20 million others in the state and its capital, Mumbai.
Reports say some hospitals are unable to cope with the flow of patients, with some lying on floors as beds run out.
"We're finding more and more cases of people with shooting fevers who are collapsing," senior health official P Doke is quoted as saying by AFP.
Piles of garbage
Leptospirosis is causes by exposure to water contaminated by rats urine, and outbreaks are known to occur in the monsoon season.
Health officials say they are concerned but there is no threat of an epidemic.
Residents in some of the flood-hit areas have clashed with civic officials, complaining that garbage in the areas had not been cleared and was spreading disease.
The authorities say they are doing their best to clean up.
Correspondents say most of the victims live in shantytowns where flood and sewage water had entered homes.
Some 300 medical teams have been sent across the state to combat the spread of disease.
Civic authorities and politicians were severely criticised after the recent flooding for failing to provide proper drainage systems and other flood protection measures.
Have you been affected by the floods in Maharashtra? Are you a health worker fighting the spread of disease or caring for the sick? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Do you have a picture to send? Email your pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4144402.stm
Published: 2005/08/12 16:42:30 GMT
© BBC MMV