PANJIM: As COVID-19 curbs ease, mosquito-borne dengue cases have seen a sudden rise, even as a Health Department official claims it is an “annual seasonal trend”.
There have been 266 dengue cases reported in the State from January 1 till July 31, as against 212 cases reported during the same period in 2020.
Dengue is on the rise now, unlike last year when the cases were at bare minimum due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and its
imposed lockdown. “However, with restrictions being eased and the COVID curve flattened, Health officials have increased their surveillance and as such more cases are getting reported,” Chief Medical Officer Kalpana Mahatme said.
In the last seven months ending July 31, there were 266 cases of dengue reported of which 102 cases were in July. The month saw four times more cases compared to last year, when it had only 26 cases. In 2019, July had reported 70 cases.
Vasco and Cortalim were worst hit with dengue as South Goa reported 65 cases in July, while in North there were 37 cases scattered across Panjim, Mapusa, Calangute, etc.
Mahatme said the data for August will be available by the first week of September. “Cases are likely to increase in August. As per a preliminary report, maximum cases are reported in Vasco and Cortalim health centres,” she said.
Last year, August had reported 175 cases.
The health official, however, claims that it is an “annual seasonal trend”. “This is the season for transmission. It is an annual trend, where the cases report an increasing trend from June onwards and by September end, it starts to decline,” Mahatme said.
In 2020 there were 493 dengue cases reported, which is half the number of cases reported in 2019 that is 992. In 2018, a total of 335 cases were recorded while 2017 saw 235 cases.
Dengue cases are also rising along with opening up of construction and other activities as mosquitoes get more breeding grounds.
Several cases reported at Margao UHC in last few days
MARGAO: Several dengue cases have been reported at the Urban Health Centre, Margao in the last few days.
Taking serious note of the outbreak of dengue, besides malaria cases, the health centre has initiated several preventive measures.
According to Urban Health Centre sources, Margao has reported more than six cases in Madel itself, besides, Comba, Sirvodem and others.
Since the centre covers more than 3,500 houses in both Margao and Fatorda, it has found mosquito larvae in around 150 houses. Besides, a team had also checked nearly 6,000 breeding sites across the town and found more than 100 places infested with mosquito larvae.
“The centre is keeping close vigil so that dengue is not spread in other areas,” sources stated.
Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has also taken an initiative so that the vector-borne diseases don’t spread elsewhere.
“We have already started fogging in every ward of MMC, and the concerned councillors are personally monitoring the drive. Will take more preventive measures if required”, said MMC chairperson Lyndon Pereira.
