The annual Vasco Saptah commenced yesterday. Saptah means ‘7 days,’ and the festivities continue for an entire week. The Swatantra Path attracts a large fair with various stalls. The fair is a significant part of Vasco Saptah, offering a variety of items from household goods to clothing and footwear. Thousands of people from various parts of the state and across the border come to Vasco city for the festival. This year the city is ushering in the 125th year of Damodar Saptah festival.
Of late due to the incessant rains there have been several places in Goa which have seen a rise in Dengue cases. Though Vasco city has not seen any flooding, there is every possibility of Dengue cases spreading in the port town due to the large number of people visiting the city from various places during the Saptah festival. As per the available statistics, 177 confirmed cases have been detected in Goa from January to June 2024, with 60 cases reported in June alone. This surge is mainly due to heavy rainfall, leading to mosquito breeding in stagnant water at both community and domestic levels. Aedes aegypti bites primarily during the day. This species is most active for approximately two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset, but it can bite at night as well. This mosquito can bite people without being noticed because it approaches from behind and bites on the ankles and elbows.
Doctors are urging residents to maintain clean surroundings and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds to combat the rising threat. In South Goa, the high-risk areas are Vasco, Cortalim, and Margao. All necessary precautions need to be taken to prevent any cases of vector-borne diseases emerging in the city. Prompt action like fogging, maintaining hygiene in the food stalls, preventing flooding, timely clearance of garbage by the authorities concerned is vital to prevent any eventuality.
