PANJIM: While dengue cases have registered a significant drop in the State this year – 105 cases as compared to 208 in 2015 – malaria cases have risen significantly from 457 cases last year to 544 so far in 2016. Almost 80 percent malaria cases detected in the State are from among the migrant population.
“People should take care to prevent breeding of mosquitoes, which spreads illness and seek urgent medical help in case of fever. Cleanliness is a must and the people should keep their surroundings clean and avoid water stagnation,” Dr Chandrakant Porob, Chief Medical Officer, Health Department said.
“The major thrust should be on curbing breeding of mosquitoes at the source. A mosquito type called as Aedes aegypti, is responsible for spreading dengue fever and it mostly breeds in para-domestic as well as domestic surroundings,” he added.
He said there are many dos and don’ts to stop mosquito breeding like covering water tanks and containers with tight lids, disposing and destroying unused containers, tyres, coconut shells and other junk material. In addition to this, people should empty, scrub and dry desert coolers every week before refilling and use bed nets to prevent mosquito bites.
Common symptoms are high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, bleeding from nose, gums or easy bruising and severe abdominal pain.
Meanwhile, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, New Delhi, had considered Goa as an ideal place to begin the Malaria Elimination Project in 2014.
