PANAJI
Alarming signs are emerging of a potential public health threat in Goa with cases of vector-borne dengue rising and new ones being detected in sporadic geographical areas across Goa.
A top health official admitted that the situation is growing increasingly serious and with the monsoons just round the corner, matter could go out of hand if co-ordinated efforts are not made to tackle it at multiple levels.
Tackling mosquito breeding concurrently with clinically managing the disease among those afflicted will be crucial, said the official who did not want to be identified.
For starters, Sattari the home taluka of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, is the hardest hit and the tally of confirmed cases has shot up to 43. The endemic villages include Bhironda, Kopardem, Caranzol and Dhamashe.
30 cases have been detected in Morpilla village of Quepem taluka. Earlier this week, four cases had been detected in Morpilla, prompting officials at the local health centre at Balli to go on an overdrive with fogging operations in the endemic areas and to up their surveillance activities.
Another issue of concern is anti-vector measures in school campuses where students are expected to return for physical classes after a gap of two years.
Health officials said, school campuses are vulnerable for the spread of the disease, especially in the monsoons when water-logging is commonplace.
Over a week ago, Rane had issued directions to Health Director, Dr Geeta Kakodkar, to ensure health officers manning primary and community health centres across the State work in sync with local bodies -- panchayats and municipalities -- to tackle the spread of the vector-borne disease.
Rane who also holds the Urban Development portfolio had also separately asked the Director of Municipal Administration to issue circulars directing chief officers of civic bodies to engage with health officers in their respective jurisdictions.
