'Dengue, lepto, gastro taking toll on state'

Mumbai: Dengue, leptospirosis, gastroenteritis and H1N1 flu have wreaked havoc in Maharashtra, according to Dr Deepak Sawant, state health minister. Dr Sawant recently held a meeting to discuss measures to tackle these life-threatening diseases. The health department is also likely to examine water samples in rural areas to curb the outbreak of gastroenteritis.

Across the state, 136 persons have been reported of gastroenteritis, while 7 deaths due to the ailment so far. There have been 2914 of dengue reported, of whom, six died. Of the 136 cases of leptospirosis, there have been seven deaths in Mumbai alone. Similarly, 42 people across Maharashtra are suffering from swine flu, of whom, 10 have lost their lives.