PANAJI
With 542 cases and three deaths reported in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year, dengue remains one of the biggest challenges for the public health services.
Officials from the DHS’s National Vector Borne Disease Control programme said they have already started efforts to control the ‘Aedes’ mosquito during the January-May period.
In the same five-month period last year, 117 dengue cases were reported, which contributed to the yearly increase. In 2023, Goa had recorded only 55 cases during these pre-monsoon months.
“This could be because we experienced a few days of rain in each of these months,” a health official suggested.
Efforts to reduce cases during the pre-monsoon months have begun. Teams from local health centres are regularly alerting vulnerable areas about anti-mosquito breeding measures.
The official said a major reason for the rise in cases is the lack of precautions against mosquito breeding in migrant worker settlements and construction sites. Water stored in open drums without proper covers creates ideal breeding spots for mosquitoes.
Door-to-door awareness campaigns have also been intensified in hotspots identified between January and May. Local PHC teams are educating residents on proper water storage methods and maintaining cleanliness around their homes.
Public health centres (PHCs) are working with local bodies, including panchayats and municipal councils, to tackle mosquito breeding sites in their areas. Anti-larval measures are also being implemented at construction sites.
Three deaths in 2024
Health authorities confirmed three dengue-related deaths in 2024, involving a child, a young adult, and a senior citizen.
According to an official, the child and young adult were admitted to government hospitals in the advanced stages of the disease and did not respond to treatment. The senior citizen had pre-existing health conditions.
