Kochi: Waste dumping raises risk of communicable diseases

KOCHI: Those dumping waste at various places, including in private properties, are putting public safety at stake by increasing the risk of communicable diseases spreading in the district, health officials have warned.

Waste dumping and spread of communicable diseases are closely associated with each other. Authorities fear that this will also lead to an increase in rodent population in the district, which has been witnessing a rise in leptospirosis cases of late. Incessant rain that lashed Ernakulam last week has made the situation even worse, officials said.

As many as six suspected typhoid cases were reported from the district in October and one confirmed case in November. Typhoid is a waterborne disease.

"We expect an increase in waterborne diseases in the coming days due to the rains. We also need to be careful about leptospirosis. We have informed the local bodies to take steps for proper disposal of waste," said district surveillance officer of non-Covid diseases Dr Vinod Paulose.

Waste can be seen dumped at various places in the city. Though the local body removes the waste at public places, people dump it in private properties making those living nearby vulnerable to communicable diseases.

"Passersby dump waste on a plot near our house. On Sundays, when no waste removal is happening, we are forced walk on the waste littered on the road," says Suji Santhosh, who lives near Thammanam-Karanakodam Road.

"Two health squads conduct night patrolling to book those dumping waste. We have collected around Rs 9 lakh as fine in the past two months. " said a corporation health official.