SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Monsoon is yet to arrive to its full potential, but dengue—the deadly vector borne disease—that created havoc in the 2019 and 2021 has surfaced again. Goa has already reported 51 confirmed cases out of 1352 suspected ones in the last four months. No death due to dengue is reported till April this year.
On the backdrop of National Dengue Day observed on May 16, a detailed report prepared by the office of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme under the leadership of Dr Kalpana Mahatme reveals that 2019 and 2021 was the worst year pertaining to dengue cases in Goa since 2015. In 2019 a total of 3418 suspected cases were reported, and out of which 726 were confirmed, which is the highest number to date. In 2021 confirmed dengue cases recorded was 649, but the suspected case count was 7516.
This day has been observed since 2016 across the country with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to create awareness about dengue and to intensify preventive measures and preparedness for the control of disease in the country before transmission season starts.
In 2021 the maximum numbers of dengue cases were reported in Vasco-227 and Cortalim in Cortalim-94 confirmed cases, and the reasons being water string and contraction sites.
"Panaji had reported 58 confirmed cases, besides 39 dengue cases in Colvale. Mapusa reported 55, and Candolim 37. In 2020 Goa reported nearly 376 cases of dengue out of 2492 suspected ones. Two deaths were reported, one each in 2018 and 2019,” said Dr Kalpana.
Meanwhile, Urban Health Centre, Margao under the guidance of Dr. Soccoro Quadros, Medical Officer are working hard to create awareness amongst the public to keep their surroundings clean.
It has been revealed that there is danger from the rise in dengue cases in the Margao and surrounding areas, and the UHC is keeping vigil on the situation. Aquem, Malbhatt, Gogal, Borda, Chandrawado, Ambaji are the places where more numbers of dengue and other cases of vector borne diseases has been reported in the last few days, and hence the citizens residing here needs to take proper care and precautions. Moti Dongor, and Chandrawado are the areas where more cases have been reported as compared to other places.
It has been further revealed that nearly 97 construction sites have been identified in and around Margao, and hence UHC is keeping vigil on these sites on a regular basis.
At the moment Moti Dongor and Chandrawado are the two areas considered as the high risk pertaining to Dengue and Malaria diseases. In the last two months, that is March-April, 2022, UHC has reported nearly 8 dengue cases.
