Overview

• Hospitals from Mumbai to Kolkata report a sharp rise in gastroenteritis cases, with children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised patients most at risk.
• Medical experts warn that overflowing sewage and rainwater runoff contaminate drinking supplies with norovirus, rotavirus, Salmonella and E. coli.
• Street vendors’ raw fruits, salads and unhygienic roadside fare become high-risk vectors in humid conditions.
• Health authorities urge boiling or filtering water, avoiding uncooked street food and practicing rigorous hand and food hygiene.
• Dietitians recommend natural probiotics like curd or yoghurt, light freshly cooked meals and early rehydration with safe fluids to prevent serious dehydration.