Team Herald
PANJIM: While on one side the number of Coronavirus cases is skyrocketing in Goa – much like most of the regions in the country, the rise in dengue cases is another matter that has been of concern to the Health Department. This year, till August end, there has been an overall rise of 175 percent in the mosquito-borne disease in the State.
From January 1 to August 31, a total 248 confirmed cases of dengue were reported in the State, as against the 141 cases, during the same period in 2019.
The total number of suspected cases was 1,515.
North Goa has been the worst hit with 148 cases so far, while South has reported 100 patients.
The public health centres like Candolim (66) in North and Vasco (58) and Cortalim (21) were found to be vulnerable to the dengue; while areas like Mapusa, Panjim, Sanquelim, Porvorim also reported cases above ten.
Till date no single dengue case is reported in the PHCs of Corlim, Betiqui in North Goa and in South- Canacona, Sanguem, Loutolim, Chinchinim and in Navelim.
The year 2019 had seen a sudden rise in Dengue cases in the month of July-August- September.
However, this year, there is a decline in the number of cases during these months; while July reported only 26 cases as against 70 last year, the month of August also saw only 36 cases. In 2019, August had 62 patients.
Goa has been witnessing a rise in dengue cases since 2017. While 150 dengue cases were registered in 2016, 235 cases were registered in 2017, 335 in 2018 and highest ever in 2019 that saw 726 cases.
The doctor said that there has been sporadic prevalence, mostly in Vasco.
Sources at the Directorate of Health Services, confirmed that the rise in cases were basically attributed to the dengue mosquitoes breeding in houses where people keep flower pots. In areas where there is no regular water supply, dengue mosquitoes breed and also on non-treated waste, a one of the reasons for the spread.
The health authorities have observed that the majority of the cases are within a family setup like husband and wife or mother and daughter or son or father and son.
