PANJIM: Goa did not report any cases of indigenous cases of malaria during the period between January and August this year, according to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Panjim.
The State had registered two cases of indigenous malaria last year, the DHS said.
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According to the DHS, the State registered decline in the cases of imported malaria as well. There were 400 cases of imported malaria in the State between the period of January and August this year as against 450 cases during the same period last year.
“As of now, there are no indigenous cases of malaria in Goa this year (January to August period). Last year, we had one indigenous case of malaria during the same period and overall we had two indigenous cases. There were 400 imported cases of malaria this year during the period of January and August while during the same period last year, the State registered 450 imported cases of malaria,” Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Kalpana Mahatme told O Heraldo.
On the efforts to eliminate malaria, Dr Mahatme said, “Goa is a State which is going for malaria elimination. Elimination means there would be no local cases. But we cannot stop people coming from outside. So we will have imported cases, which are found in the people coming from endemic states. Predominantly there are vivex cases in Goa but some time we get Plasmodium Falciparum (Pf) cases in people coming from endemic States.”
Dr Mahatme said imported cases of malaria were found at high risk areas like Porvorim, Siolim, Chimbel, Margao, Saligao and Calangute.
She said construction labourers were issued health cards, which are renewed after every three months.
“If anybody is found without a health card, then as per Section 75 (AA) of Goa Public Health Act, the contractor is fined Rs 10,000 per person. Workers are screened and then the card is issued to them. Those coming within a month are considered as imported cases, while staying for more than a month is considered indigenous cases. We take the travel history and depending on that we call them imported or indigenous cases,” said Dr Mahatme.
