While the city did not record much of its rain in the first three weeks of June, the civic body, in the corresponding month, had recorded around five cases of leptospirosis (a bacterial disease caused mainly due to wounds being exposed to animal urine in contaminated water). Doctors fear that after the recent heavy rainfall in the city and waterlogging woes, there is a likelihood of an increase in the number of leptospirosis cases in the month of July. According to the doctors, the citizens must take preventive measures and avoid walking in contaminated water in monsoon. In most of the leptospirosis cases, the patients who had wound on their leg walked in the contaminated water. Giving out an advisory to the citizens, Dr Padmaja Keskar, an executive health officer in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s public health department, said, "Citizens must avoid walking through water especially if they have wounds on their legs. Maintaining hygiene is very important. Citizens should wash their hands and legs thoroughly after they have walked through water. If they have a fever, immediate medical advice should be taken by consulting the doctor rather than self-medicate." Last year in the month of June, there were five cases of leptospirosis and two deaths. In 2018, there were around 146 cases of leptospirosis and nine deaths during the monsoon season. Dr Keskar, added, "We haven't reported a major number of cases so far, but as a preventive measure after the heavy rainfall a week ago, a stock of Doxycycline has been sent to the health post and health centres to treat any cases if diagnosed." Speaking about the preventive measures, Dr Suyash Kulkarni, consulting physician and intensivist, from Santacruz-based Surya Hospital, said, "Leptospirosis occurs due to contact with infected animal urine. The preventive measures for leptospirosis include avoiding walking or swimming in areas of infected water, drinking boiled water or water which has been treated chemically during the rainy season or when the probability of water being infected is present, to cover all cuts and bruises and to wear personal protective gears like gumboots or covered footwear." He added, "Citizens should avoid waddling in waterlogged areas. Patients must be given medicines like Doxycycline 100mg (after consulting doctor) once a day as prophylaxis if there is a history of walking in infected water."

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