In the last three months which coincide with the ongoing monsoon season, numerous cases of suspected dengue fever were registered with the government health centres from Vasco area.
Speaking about the data of July and August, Dr Rashmi Khandeparkar from the Vasco Urban Health Centre informed that there are over 100 suspected dengue fever cases and 12 confirmed dengue cases detected.
From these 12, some of the patients have undertaken treatment in the Chicalim sub district hospital and Goa Medical College Hospital.
There have also been three fatalities in Vasco due to dengue fever reported so far.
Young Malcolm Dias from Vollant Vasco lost his life to the deadly disease.
Following his sad demise, his family members along with a large number of residents from Vasco and surrounding areas had held protests and had questioned the functioning of the newly upgraded Chicalim Health Centre.
In the month of September, there were two more fatalities reported to dengue fever where a six-year-old boy from Vaddem and a fifty-five-year-old woman from Baina lost their lives.
A visit around Vasco town revealed that there is still a lot that needs to be done to eradicate mosquito breeding sources.
Near Dabolim airport itself, one can see barrels kept open and unattended to by some labourers for the grade separator project.
The situation in places like Belabai, Maimolem and Mestavadem area are not so different. Here, one can find garbage dumping spots as people tend to dump coconut shells, plastic containers, bottles and so on. All of which can retain water.
Even Baina beach, empty soda bottles can be found near the entrance. In the proximity, there are under-construction projects such as the over bridge and care has to be taken to ensure that there are no spots collecting water.
The rise in dengue cases has also been attributed to the unplanned and uncontrolled urbanization, which has caused pressure on the civic amenities especially on water supply, which further leads to people storing water in various water storing objects such as blue plastic barrels, and other household utensils.
This can be seen at Headland Sada where people get water only for a few hours and sometimes there is no water supply for days if there is a water pipeline breakdown.
However, health officials warn that these water-filled barrels and open containers can be sources for mosquito breeding.
“Few years back there was a dengue outbreak in Regina Mundi area and the mosquito breeding sources were found in barrels and water tanks,” said Dr Anant Palyekar, Deputy Director of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme.
He also cited the delayed rainfall which has led to the shifting of the transmission of the dengue outbreak, which he felt was why there have been more suspected dengue cases recently.
Stressing on eradicating mosquito breeding sources, Palyekar said utensils and other form of containers, which are used to store water at home , need to be cleaned regularly.
Other spots for mosquito breedings, he added, can be found in open barrels, water tanks and containers, abandoned vehicles tyres kept in open and drains, which have not been cleaned.
When asked about what people should keep in mind to help prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases, he appealed to the public to inspect their surroundings regularly and keep it clean.
“People need to dispose solid waste such as plastic and containers that can hold water, systematically. Safe water storage practices such as properly covering the water barrels and tanks need to be followed. To eradicate and curb disease like dengue community participation is also needed,” Palyekar added.
On a final point regarding treatment, he emphasised that treatment to dengue cases may differ from patient to patient depending upon the patient’s presentation to doctor at the particular time.