No. of leptospirosis cases, however, are down; BMC says citizens must take equal responsibility to prevent mosquito breeding in their areas; additionally, dengue cases also saw a rise from 966 between January and July 2024 to 1160 cases in the same period this year
The city is witnessing a worrying resurgence of mosquito-borne diseases, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reporting a staggering 476 per cent rise in chikungunya cases and a 45 per cent jump in malaria cases between January and July, compared to the same period in 2024. While 2852 cases of malaria and 46 cases of chikungunya were reported in this period last year, 4151 cases of malaria and 265 cases of chikungunya were recorded from January and July 2025, respectively. Additionally, dengue cases also saw a rise from 966 between January and July 2024 to 1160 cases in the same period this year.
While Dr Daksha Shah, executive health officer of the BMC, attributed the overall rise of vector-borne diseases, especially chikungunya to the rise in pollution levels, intermittent rainfall, and the increase in construction activities and sites, medical field experts stated that the nature of chikungunya this year has shown more intensity.
A sudden spike in cases has led to intensified surveillance, fumigation, and awareness drives in high-risk areas. The BMC has fogged over 8.16 lakh huts and 52,000 buildings, and surveyed 14.4 lakh homes to prevent mosquito breeding. However, given the city’s size, public cooperation is crucial. Residents must prevent water accumulation in terraces, gardens, parking areas, and pools. If stagnant water is found in public places or construction sites, they should report it to the ward office for draining, which naturally stops mosquito breeding.