Dengue has emerged as a major public health concern in Goa with the disease spreading across the State and the number of localised hotspots now increasing to about five “ Panaji, Chimbel, Vasco, Mormugao and Candolim-Calangute. The Goan maps the pan-Goa spread of the disease which has claimed 16 lives so far this year and takes a peek at what the health authorities are doing to tackle the threat, the tweaks in strategies and treatment protocols, besides its efforts to get local bodies on board to implement preventive measures, particularly tackling the sites conducive for breeding of mosquitoes, the vector primarily responsible for transmitting the disease.
Current rains could fuel surge in Oct as well: Dr Mahatme
PANAJI
August was a month that saw dengue numbers in Goa peak with over 3,000-odd ‘suspected cases’ and 80 confirmed cases (the authorities consider patients positive with the rapid test as ‘suspected’ and only those positive with an ELISA test as ‘confirmed’). In September, although the disease spread its net over a wider area across the State with hotspots at Panaji, Chimbel-St Cruz-Taleigao, Calangute-Candolim and Mormugao, the numbers had declined with 1,000-odd ‘suspected cases’ and 72 confirmed cases until September 23 (updated figures of September will be available on October 5).
But there is nothing to cheer about in the decline in dengue cases in September. As Dr Kalpana Mahatme says, the heavy rains in the latter part of September does not bode well.
“These rains are not a good sign. It will lead to a rise in dengue cases in October although we are continuing with our preventive measures and campaigns. Let’s wait and see in the next 15 days,” said Dr Mahatme, who heads the National Vector Borne Disease Programme at the Directorate of Health Services.
Dr Mahatme has been on her toes ever since the monsoon brought with it the menace of mosquito breeding and a corresponding increase in the number of people infected with dengue in August-September. She has been co-ordinating the health department’s effort to tackle the disease.
Also, Dr Mahatme has been simultaneously co-ordinating with other government agencies and the local bodies “ municipalities and panchayats “ to upscale at the State level preventive measures aimed at tackling mosquito breeding sites and also taking up awareness drives to get local communities involved.
Changing gears
Despite all the efforts, Goa saw the disease spread and a surge in cases in the months of August and September and so the authorities are changing gear. “We are issuing fresh guidelines for the medical fraternity specially the primary health centres (PHCs), tertiary hospitals and the two district hospitals,” Dr Mahatme told The Goan.
“Within the next couple of days, we will be issuing separate SOPs for referrals and treatment,” she said.
According to Mahatme, specific protocols are being issued for referring patients for hospitalisation, that is when to refer a dengue patients from PHCs and tertiary hospitals to the district hospitals and for the latter to refer them to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) at Bambolim.
Treatment is symptom specific and usually fluid replacement in the patient. Mahatme said, specific guidelines will be issued to all PHCs, tertiary hospitals and the district hospitals on the amounts of IV fluids to be administered, besides the periodicity of testing and monitoring of the platelet count of dengue patients.
Panchayats, civic bodies must get onboard
While some local bodies are co-operating, providing manpower and aiding the health teams in tackling mosquito breeding sites, there are others, especially civic bodies who aren’t doing enough.
Dr Mahatme said she is in the process of identifying these local bodies and will shortly write to the Urban Development Ministry to get these civic bodies on board.
“Our health minister is also the Urban development minister so it will help. But in addition to the civic bodies, the local community and the general public must also do their bit. The Aedes mosquito breeds anywhere. There have been instances where in the homes of people who have tested positive for dengue, we have found that the mosquito breeding has happened in flower pots and even in one case in the commode,” Dr Mahatme said.
16 deaths, but audits awaited
The government has acknowledged 16 deaths of dengue patients this year, all of them at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
However, according to the State Epidemiologist Dr Prashant Suryavanshi, in all these cases, dengue is not yet being attributed as the cause of death.
“We are conducting death audits. In some cases there were other complications, including some alcoholics. The reports of these death audits are awaited after which the exact numbers will be known,” Dr Suryavanshi said.
According to Dr Suryavanshi, who has been continuously monitoring the State level numbers, including the demographics, Vasco, Mormugao, Chimbel, Panaji and Calangute-Candolim have emerged as hotspots for dengue currently.
