MAPUSA
One patient from Candolim has died of suspected dengue, even as cases of dengue are reportedly on the rise in the coastal village and other surrounding areas.
A 30-year-old woman died of suspected dengue in Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim on Monday.
While Health Officer in-charge of National Vector Borne Disease, Dr Kalpana Mahatme informed that the death due to dengue was yet to be confirmed, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes said one young lady died of dengue in the village.
The Calangute MLA and the local sarpanch visited the Candolim Primary Health Centre on Wednesday and took stock of the sudden spurt in dengue cases.
According to the in-charge of the national vector borne disease, the deceased patient was first admitted in a private hospital and later transferred to GMC.
She said the private hospital had done a rapid test on the deceased which came positive for dengue. She, however, said that the rapid test cannot be taken as a confirmed case.
“We don’t know whether it’s a death due to dengue. I have asked for the papers from the GMC. We also need to check whether they had done the dengue conformity test on the patient,” Dr Mahatme told The Goan.
She said there are nine PHCs which are labelled as high risk for dengue/malaria in the State which also includes Candolim PHC.
However, she said this year the number of dengue cases in Candolim is far less compared to cases reported last year.
“We are under control. Candolim is crowded with migrants plus there are several hotels and guesthouses there. We need community participation to control dengue,” she said.
The Calangute MLA informed that dengue cases were on the rise in Candolim, Calangute and even in Nerul.
He also said Candolim PHC which caters to seven villages including Candolim and Calangute is extremely understaffed.
“We cannot remain in denial. Dengue cases are rising and one person has also lost her life due to dengue. We need to work as a team to rid this menace,” Lobo said.
Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes said that the Candolim PHC was not sharing proper information of dengue cases in the village.
“If we get proper information then the panchayat and the PHC can jointly work out a strategy to arrest the rising trend,” Fernandes said.
He said the panchayat has now formed five teams which will move around from ward to ward distributing literature and physically emptying open containers filled with water.
