NCDC flags monsoon spike in food and water-borne diseases across India

According to the National Centre for Disease Control, food- and water-borne diseases continue to remain a major public health concern in India, especially during the rainy season, when contamination of water supplies becomes more common. The NCDC regularly advises safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and good hand hygiene as the first line of defence against these illnesses.

The advisory comes as health experts report a noticeable seasonal rise in patients complaining of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, typhoid and hepatitis A. Rainwater can contaminate drinking water sources, humidity allows germs to multiply faster, and food left uncovered spoils more easily than many people realise.

Dr Vineet Kumar Gupta, senior consultant and unit head of gastroenterology at ShardaCare – Healthcity, said the first step is ensuring water is safe to drink. ‘Opt for either boiled, filtered, or bottled water. In case of any doubt regarding the safety of your water, a good water purifier or chlorination tablets can be utilized,’ he said, adding that even clear-looking water is not always safe during heavy rains, when sewage lines, overflowing drains and flooded surroundings can contaminate supplies with bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Food handling matters just as much. Dr Gupta advised choosing freshly prepared home food over street-vendor food, and said properly stored wheat products and processed grains generally remain safer because they are less likely to develop fungal contamination. Dr Vinay Bhat, associate director of internal medicine at Yashoda Medicity, said fresh food is always safer than food that has stayed out in the open for long hours.

Doctors also flagged cross-contamination in the kitchen as a risk, recommending that utensils, chopping boards and surfaces be cleaned with soap and water, and that leftovers be refrigerated promptly and reheated thoroughly. Air Cmde (Dr) Bhaskar Nandi of Sarvodaya Hospital said anyone with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay hydrated and consult a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.