Mumbai monsoon floods spark leptospirosis alerts as old fish video resurfaces

Heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai have flooded streets and railway tracks, creating stagnant water that authorities say can foster leptospirosis, a bacterial infection also known as rat fever. The director of the Indian Council of Medical Research's Regional Medical Research Centre warned that early symptoms mimic common fevers and that self‑medication with over‑the‑counter painkillers can mask the disease, urging residents to seek prompt medical care. Construction sites with pooled water are identified as hotspots, putting laborers and commuters at heightened risk.

At the same time, a video showing fish swimming on Mumbai's water‑logged railway tracks went viral, but fact‑checkers traced the footage to a July 2024 report, confirming it is not recent. The clip was originally shared by outlets such as NDTV and News18, and reverse‑image searches revealed it had been reused online to exaggerate the current flooding.

Public health officials stress vigilance during the monsoon season, combining disease prevention with accurate information to avoid panic.