PANAJI: Dengue cases reported during the past four months, till May, are less in comparison to the corresponding four months of 2020.
However, unwilling to take any chances, especially during the crucial monsoon season, the directorate of health services (DHS) has put in place all measures to contain its spread.
Till May, 101 dengue cases were reported as against 150 for the same period in 2020.
DHS has also already issued directions to flu out-patient departments (OPDs) of health centres that patients coming in with complaints of flu and fever must be made to undergo dengue and malaria tests, in addition to Covid-19 test.
“Any patient visiting a flu OPD who has a fever, will be made to undergo dengue and malaria test along with Covid -19 test,” National Vector Borne Disease Control (NVBDC) programme Goa’s deputy director and in-charge Dr Anant Palekar said.
Further, he said the work of destroying breeding sites by paying house-to-house visits is underway.
“We are monitoring the situation.
When cases are reported from any area, we undertake a cleanliness drive there,” he said.
Stating that so far, the cases of dengue reported are comparatively less, Palekar said they will have to wait and see what happens during the monsoon.
Last year saw a lot of dengue cases detected in Calangute.
But several breeding sites were destroyed after the tourism belt fell silent during the lockdown.
“So far, few cases have been found in Calangute, at one or two places, vis-à-vis last year,” Palekar said.
This year, so far, no dengue cases have been reported from new areas.
Most of the cases reported are from areas in Vasco and places that fall under the Cortalim primary health centre.
These places face water scarcity, compelling people to store water.
Sometimes, the vessels used to store water are left uncovered.
Dengue mosquito breeds in clean water, and breeding can be easily found indoors.
At several houses in Panaji last year, dengue mosquito breeding was found in flower plots, and in gardens.
However, there haven’t been such cases so far, he said.