PANJIM: Dengue continues to cause fear among citizens in the State, with Vasco town being the hotspot for the disease, though health authorities attempt to play down the spread of the infection claiming cases are on a decline.
On Monday, a girl from Curti-Ponda died of suspected dengue but the health authorities were yet to receive the death report from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, to know the exact cause of death.
According to National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) health officer Dr Kalpana Mahatme, overall dengue cases have been on the decline since August this year. She said that in August 117 dengue cases (58 in North Goa and 59 in South Goa) were reported in the State while, the number of cases dropped to 108 (60 in North Goa and 48 in South Goa) in September.
Mahatme said highest dengue cases were reported at the Vasco and Cortalim primary health centres (PHCs). The PHC Vasco had reported 41 dengue cases in July, 46 in August and 40 in September while, 24, 13 and 8 cases were reported at PHC Cortalim from July to September this year.
However, there was surge in dengue infected cases in the North Goa district especially in Panjim. In July, only one dengue case was reported in Panjim while, 14 cases were reported in August and the same increased to 19 last month. Also there was an increase in dengue cases in Porvorim (7) last month while, it decreased at Mapusa from 10 in August to 8 last month.
Mahatme said the reason for increase in dengue infected cases in Porvorim area was due to migrant workers working in fishing trawlers at the Malim jetty. She said the Directorate of Health Services is taking all measures and precautions, including fogging, to control the disease and claimed that dengue cases have started declining.
Mahatme said that Vasco has remained as hotspot for dengue cases and this was due to people storing water in open barrels and buckets. “I have been visiting Vasco twice a week and surveillance workers have been put on the job. Mormugao municipality has now provided us labourers and we will form supervisory groups to cover each and every area,” she said, adding that New Vaddem, Kharewado, Baina and Sada were the high risk areas in the port town.
Mahatme further said the boat owners from Kharewado have now provided a space to screen their workers working on fishing trawlers.
