Monsoon 2020: Be Ready to Battle with Monsoon Diseases

Monsoon arrival gives hope for good agriculture and respite from the summer heat, but it also comes with a lot of diseases. Preparations are underway to minimise mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, filaria and chikungunya as due to COVID-19. The most mosquito-borne disease has similarities in symptoms of those diseases in COVID-19 and training is required for health staff members. 

Concern also arises as vector-borne diseases numbers increase during the monsoon due to water stagnation, serving as a breeding space for mosquitoes. In vector-borne, only malaria has a specific treatment whereas dengue and chikungunya are mostly treated symptomatically. There is no vaccine for these diseases and thus prevention is the only strategy and people needs to be alert beforehand. During monsoons, our immune system is weakened and we are also prone to other diseases like Common Cold & Flu, Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A,   Diarrhoea etc.  The hot, humid and wet weather makes it favourable for the growth of the micro-organisms. It may also result in respiratory tract diseases or skin infections. 

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) now monsoon has arrived in Goa, some parts of Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, remaining parts of Karnataka, Odisha, a coastal district of Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Assam, entire Rayalaseema & Coastal Andhra Pradesh & parts of Telangana. In few days, monsoon is expected to reach parts of Chhattisgarh and West Bengal also. 

Preventive measures for all the upcoming disease include providing clean drinking water, better sanitation, social distancing, wearing a mask, practising good hygiene and better handwashing. Application of anti-repellent mosquito creams and electronic mosquito repellent devices like mosquito rackets can be used during the monsoon season to avoid mosquitoes at home. Even people should also wear full sleeve clothing when out in the day to avoid mosquito bites. It is important to remember that the dengue mosquito usually bites only in the day time and breeds in clean, freshwater. So any water accumulation should be avoided. Immunity can be boosted by eating Vitamin C rich foods and green leafy vegetables or following AYUSH Ministry guidelines for COVID-19. Avoid eating raw food like salads as it is difficult or ascertain to tell whether they have been washed, cleaned and stored at the right temperature. Avoid roadside or street food which may be made in contaminated water and trigger diarrhoea. Older people are more vulnerable victims of ailments so proper care is required.  

Enjoy monsoon 2020 with care, precaution and prevention as life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.