Aggressive surveillance, clean-up drives and early testing credited for success
PANAJI
Goa ended 2025 with its best dengue record in over a decade: only 105 cases were reported and not a single death was recorded.
Aggressive surveillance and public cooperation are reasons health officials attribute to the success.
“This is a milestone for Goa’s health system,” said Dr Kalpana Mahatme, Deputy Director of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme.
In 2024, the State had logged 567 cases and three deaths. The turnaround came after the health department tightened its strategy, with teams carrying out door-to-door inspections in dengue hotspots.
Breeding sites were destroyed, pesticides were sprayed, garbage was cleared and residents were told to keep their homes and surroundings clean.
On the clinical side, every patient who visited primary and urban health centres with fever was compulsorily tested for dengue and malaria, helping doctors detect cases early so treatment could commence quickly.
Mahatme said most infections in 2025 were traced to migrant settlements and construction sites, where water is often stored in open containers. A few patients had travelled from dengue-prone States, bringing the virus with them, she added.
Dr Mahatme stressed the importance of vigilance to recognise early symptoms such as persistent fever, severe stomach pain, sweating or chills, and vomiting. “Government hospitals provide free, quality facilities for dengue treatment, but recognising symptoms in time is crucial,” she said.
Officials, meanwhile, said the success reflects strong coordination between departments, local bodies and communities for awareness campaigns and efforts to plug gaps in eradicating mosquito-breeding sites from neighbourhoods.
Public health experts cautioned against complacency, as stagnant water at construction sites and poor waste management remain challenges. Nonetheless, the numbers mark a breakthrough against the backdrop of Goa's struggle with dengue for years.
