'In high-rises, no cases but must watch for fever'

As Mumbai witnesses one of its most severe measles outbreaks in recent years, Dr Mangala Gomare, BMC’s executive health officer, speaks to Sumitra Debroy on the ongoing situation. The city has recorded 22 outbreaks, resulting in nearly 3,700 suspected and 252 confirmed cases. There have been a dozen deaths in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. As per Dr Gomare, cases are confined mainly to slum pockets, so parents across the city needn’t panic but must remain on guard

- Sumitra Debroy

Q: What is responsible for the outbreak, according to BMC’s analysis?

A: We’ve been doing measles and rubella surveillance for four years, as the Government of India plans to eliminate them by December 2023. We get some cases yearly, but since September last week, we’ve seen a drastic surge in incidence. Drop in immunisation due to the pandemic is a likely vital factor, but there are other contributing reasons

Q: What are those reasons?