Dengue cases in Aug this year drop to 13 from 95 in Aug 2024

Panaji: Compared to the upsurge of dengue cases last year, where 95 were reported in Aug 2024, this year the health department has reported just 13 confirmed cases in Aug.Six cases were reported in North Goa — two in Mapusa and one each in Aldona, Siolim, Mayem and Saligao.

In South Goa which reported seven confirmed cases, four were from Margao and one each in Shiroda, Balli and Quepem.Goa’s confirmed dengue cases between Jan and Aug when compared to the same period last year, have fallen by 80%. Jan to Aug 2024 saw 352 cases compared to 69 this year.Deputy director and in charge of the National Vector Borne Disease Prevention Programme, Dr Kalpana Mahatme, said this year's dengue cases have drastically reduced compared to last year.The health department has asked its workers to visit schools in their jurisdiction that were closed for the Ganesh Chaturthi to check whether there any water has stagnated that could be a potential breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes.“During the festival, families travelled out of state and from cities to villages and could have contracted dengue. These infections will spread to others only if there is stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. We have told our health workers to coordinate with the nodal officers of schools so that there are no breeding grounds for mosquitoes in schools for potential dengue to spread,” Mahatme said.With heavy and continuous rain last week now turning erratic, the department has also asked its health workers to be more proactive and do door-to-door checks.