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Swine flu deaths in Mumbai went up four times after Ganpati and BMC fears that's what will happen after dandiya as well
Before the Ganpati festival began on August 23, only three people in Mumbai not including Thane, Mira Road and Navi Mumbai had died of swine flu.
After the September 3 visarjan, the number has gone up to 11. The toll in India is 240 and the numbers infected with the H1N1 virus is nearly 8,000.
These numbers suggest that the spread of the disease could have plenty to do with large crowds gathering in one place, say BMC officials.
And that's not good news considering that the Navratri festival has just started.
The BMC has now issued an advisory asking people to be careful at Navratri gatherings.
Dr Sanjay Oak, one of the members of BMC's swine flu panel and dean of KEM Hospital, said, "Festivals like Ganpati and Navratri can easily help spread the virus. The BMC will soon send precautionary SMSes to people."
Precautionary measures include asking people with flu symptoms to stay away from Navratri celebrations and wear a mask.
Safe dandiya
Dandiya organisers agree with the BMC that celebration shouldn't come at the cost of spreading the H1N1 virus.
Devendra Joshi, who organises the Sankalp dandiya featuring Falguni Pathak at Goregaon Sports Club, said, "We have appealed to people to stay away from playing dandiya if they have fever, cough and cold. From our side, we fumigate the entire place every day just before revellers start coming."
At least 25,000 people attend the Sankalp dandiya celebration every day.
Another dandiya organiser is being careful by distributing free masks to people.
Pankaj Kotecha, the dandiya organiser at Naidu Club, Borivli, said, "The swine flu virus doesn't spread if the climate is hot. Presently, the humidity level is high. We will distribute masks on cloudy days or if it rains."
Did you know?
On Aug 3, Reeda Shaikh became India's first swine flu victim. The state health directorate has formed a three-member committee to prepare a report investigating if she died due to negligence.
The Gujju Way
The state government has installed swine flu isolation surveillance systems (SFISS) for the Vibrant Navratri festival, which began on September 19 at the Gujarat University grounds in Ahmedabad.
Around one lakh people visit the festival every day the largest in Gujarat. The ground will have a dance area, theme pavilion, craft bazaar and food court.
The SFISS records a person's temperature and also monitors his pulse and oxygen saturation, all crucial indicators for screening swine flu.
A team of five doctors along with a quarantine area will also be set up at the venue. | 
