CALANGUTE: Reports of dengue cases have been mounting in the coastal belt of Calangute with 94 patients testing positive.
The Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira has said 94 patients tested positive for dengue after the panchayat started a free dengue testing program in the panchayat hall from September one following a sudden spike in cases in the tourism hub.
Sequeira said the free testing, which has been temporarily stopped due to the Ganesh festival, will restart on Monday.
“Ninety-four out of 397 persons who underwent dengue test were found to be positive. We decided to take up the testing on a war-footing due to the sudden rise in dengue cases in the village. We are also providing free medicines to patients who have been tested positive for the virus,” Sequeira said.
The highest number of positive cases of 19 each were reported from Khobravaddo and Naikavaddo followed by Gauravaddo (West) 11 and Umtavaddo 10.
The panchayat offered – NS1 dengue test, IgG, IgM, platelet count and dengue test consultation – free of cost and Former medical officer of Candolim PHC Dr Diksha Diukar conducted the tests.
“The panchayat has maintained the data of all the patients undergoing the tests. We have neither shared the data with anyone nor have the health officials asked us for the data,” Sequeira informed.
The panchayat has also taken up dengue-prevention measures to eliminate the dengue virus.
“We have bought pesticides worth Rs 1 lakh for the control of dengue which is being sprayed in all the wards,” he said.
