Superstitions abound, even as Malwani, Ganesh Nagar, Kandivali West and other Mumbai slum pockets sit on a Measles bomb: Dr Pranav Kabra

MUMBAI: Many households in the slum pockets of Mumbai at Malwani, Ganesh Nagar and Kandivali West resort to traditional medicines, folklore, black magic and everything else to treat measles, instead of vaccination, professional doctor’s advice and allopathic medicines.

Others prefer hanging neem leaves at the doors of their slums and believe it will protect his children. Still others believe that Shitala Mata, a form of Durga Mataa – a goddess who carries holy water and a broom can cure the otherwise very contagious disease. Some even consider the disease as a blessing from the goddess.

According to some old belief rampant both in cities and villages, measles is caused by the anger of Sitala Mata. Superstitious people claim that when a child is infected with measles, it is actually the goddess herself within the victims.

Some elders suggest that the infection should not be treated by any medication or vaccine as it is believed that the goddess will leave the body in 6-10 days on her own.

It is also said that Sitala Mata is among the seven sisters who live in the neem tree. They are known for bringing epidemic diseases. And this is why shrines to Sitala Mata are found near neem trees.

Neem is also known for eradicating chicken pox and measles according to traditional belief and folklore.

According to a survey conducted by the Raksha Hospital Research Forum (RHRF), a unit of the Raksha Multispecialty Hospital (RMH) in suburban Malad, slum pockets in heavily congested slum localities like Malwani, Ganesh Nagar and Kandivali West in the western suburbs are sitting on a measles bomb, with 3-4 kids per shanty in most cases and superstitious beliefs predominant among the dwellers.

Slum dwellers in these hotbeds for the very contagious Measles virus which is fast spreading in Mumbai believe in superstition and folklore and avoid medicines and vaccination preferring to abide by traditional beliefs.

With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)confirming an outbreak of Measles in various slum pockets of Mumbai and neighbouring areas, experts at the Raksha Hospital Research Forum presently expect more than 100 to 130 cases of the Measles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in the next few days.

Dr Pranav Kabra MD and Managing Director of the RMH who heads the RHRF said that their estimates suggest more than 100 to 130 cases.

“As schools have reopened and kids have started going to school there is great possibility of the disease spreading,” Dr Kabra suggests.

The BMC must concentrate on pockets like Malwani, Govandi, Dharavi, Ganesh Nagar (Kandivali) and other slum pockets where the population density is very high and several children could be living in a single shanty, Dr Kabra said, adding that even street kids could be possibly infected with the Measles virus.

“In the recent outbreak, since about 50 per cent of the infected kids also include those who have been vaccinated earlier, vaccination alone is not enough to prevent infection and parents should be extra careful about the situation,” Dr Kabra opined.