MAPUSA
With scattered dengue cases reported from several parts of Bardez, the district surveillance team has advised people to take preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Although health officials have said that there was no fear of an outbreak, Mapusa urban health centre reported the highest number of suspected cases of dengue followed by Colvale and Candolim primary health centres (PHC).
At least 32 suspected cases of dengue were reported in Mapusa, 16 in the jurisdiction of Colvale PHC and 14 in Candolim PHC in the first fortnight of August.
Aldona and Siolim PHCs have also reported quite a few cases of dengue.
Cunchelim, Dangui Colony, Dattawadi, Duler and Angod are some areas which saw sudden spurt in dengue cases in Mapusa.
According to the health department officials, home and office premises should be kept clean and sanitized to avoid fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
“Stagnant water in residential premises and in office spaces can help mosquitoes breed. The only way to tackle it is by ensuring clean premises. We have also strengthened surveillance,” said Dr Cheryl de Souza, Health Officer of Mapusa urban health centre.
Recently, the health officer also organised an awareness session with all the councilors of the Mapusa Municipal Council so that they can assist the health authorities in tackling the menace.
Health officials at the PHCs have taken several steps such as cleanliness drive, anti-larval spraying, fogging etc to control the spread of the disease.
According to Health Officer of Candolim PHC, Dr Roshan Nazareth there are around seven to eight cases of dengue reported every week in his jurisdiction but these were much less compared to the previous year.
“There are no clusters. Most of the cases that are being reported are scattered in different areas,” Dr Nazareth said.
“We have put a good system in place where the field workers move out and clear all the mosquito breeding grounds. Unlike in the past, we are getting good cooperation from the panchayats in our jurisdiction,” he added.
Health Officer of Colvale PHC, Dr Yogesh Govekar informed that the dengue cases have gone up this year because testing has increased.
“Last year we could not do much testing as we were in the midst of the first wave of Covid,” Dr Govekar said.
He said there were many scrapyards in Colvale and the PHC has issued notices to all the scrapyard owners to take necessary precautionary measures.
As per the data provided by the Deputy Director of Directorate of Health Services for vector borne diseases, Dr Kalpana Mahatme, following confirmed dengue cases were reported in the last month: Mapusa UHC 5, Colvale PHC 9, Candolim PHC 3, Aldona PHC and Porvorim PHC one each.
“There is a spurt in dengue cases in August but all the health centres have taken all possible precautionary measures to avoid any outbreak,” assured Dr Kalpana Mahatme.
