Mapusa witnesses 70% drop in malaria cases

MAPUSA

Bardez taluka has witnessed a drop in vector borne disease last year, with the exception of Siolim, which has seen a spurt in malaria cases. Malaria cases reported at the Mapusa UHC has come down by almost 70 pc as of December 2015, as compared to the previous year of 2014. The total number of malaria cases, both indigenous and imported, was 148 compared to 466 reported in 2014. A total of nine cases were tested positive last year compared to 19 in 2014. There were no cases of falciparum malaria last year while in 2014 four cases were reported. While suspected dengue cases reported in Mapusa were 45, only seven were confirmed up to December 2015. Similarly, there were 12 suspected cases of chikungunya in Mapusa none of which were confirmed. The Mapusa UHC in charge, Dr Anant Palyekar said that he was quite satisfied with the result and gave the credit to alert citizens including public representatives. “The number of vector borne diseases has gone down considerably in Mapusa. We are getting good support from the public who inform us about mosquito breeding grounds in the town,” Dr Palyekar said. In Candolim PHC, the total number of malaria cases reported in 2015 was 588 compared to 634 reported in 2014. A total 51 cases were tested positive last year as compared to 84 in 2014. Suspected dengue cases reported at Candolim were 41 but only four were confirmed up to December 2015. There were 20 suspected cases of chikungunya in Candolim three of which were confirmed. In Aldona PHC, number of malaria cases reported in 2015 was 243 compared to 431 reported in 2014. A total of 26 cases were tested positive last year compared to 147 in 2014. There was just one case of falciparum malaria last year while in 2014 there were three cases. Suspected dengue cases reported at Aldona were 58 but only five were confirmed up to December 2015. There were 39 suspected cases of chikungunya in Aldona two of which were confirmed. Siolim PHC was the only PHC that bucked the overall Bardez trend, where the total number of malaria cases shot up by 80 pc by December 2015 as compared to 2014. The total number of malaria cases reported last year was 309 compared to 173 in 2014. A total of 43 cases were tested positive compared to 22 in 2014. There was one case of falciparum malaria, while in 2014 there were no cases. Suspected dengue cases reported at Siolim were 16 but only one was confirmed up to December 2015. There were three suspected cases of chikungunya in Siolim one of which was confirmed. In Colvale PHC the number of malaria cases remained steady but there was a rise in falciparum cases and marginal rise in number of cases.