health teams descend on Gogol, Borda and Aquem to screen people and carry out fogging
the goan I network
MARGAO
Dengue has raised its ugly head in the commercial capital around the Gogol-Borda-Aquem belt, with a number of patients undergoing treatment in city-based private hospitals.
Margao Urban Health Officer, Dr Anju Kharangate, while confirming the spurt in dengue cases, said the situation is being closely monitored by health workers.
She added that health teams have descended on Gogol, Borda and Aquem areas to screen people and carry out fogging operations.
Deputy Director, National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme, Dr Anant Palekar, said dengue cases have been reported in the urban areas, including Margao, besides Vasco and Panaji.
The Goan understands that the patients with suspected dengue are all admitting in private hospitals at Gogol and other places.
Last week itself, around 15 suspected dengue cases were detected around the Gogol-Borda area of the city.
Sources said almost all the patients with suspected dengue are all Goan families. It is learnt that a medial practitioner and his family members were also hit by dengue.
In another case, two school-going children at Borda were also being treated for suspected dengue.
Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Anju Kharangate said teams have fanned out to Gogol, Borda and Aquem, the localities where the suspected dengue cases have been reported.
“The heavy rains and fresh water accumulation, which helps breeding of mosquitoes, are suspected to be the cause behind the spurt in the cases,” Dr Kharangate said, adding that things are well under control in the three areas.
“Our teams have carried out fogging in and around the households where suspected dengue cases were reported. We also spread awareness amongst the residents on the do’s and don’ts and to ensure there’s no water accumulation in flower pots, containers etc.,” she added. Acting Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Tito Cardozo, who represents the Borda ward, said dengue cases have been reported on the border of his ward in the last few days.
“I have told the health officials to drain out water from the basement of a building under construction at Gogol, which could be the source of the spread of dengue,” Tito said.
The MMC Chairperson said the Margao Municipal Council has resolved to procure four fogging machines. Once we have these machines by next week, fogging operations will be taken up across the 25 wards as a precautionary measure, he added.
When contacted, Deputy Director, National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme, Dr Anant Palekar, said inquiries conducted by the Margao Urban Health Centre have revealed that breeding had taken places in flower pots of residents at Gogol and Borda. “Health teams have explained to the residents to be cautious about domestic breeding and ensure there’s no water accumulation in flower pots and other empty containers,” he added.
He, however, said the situation is well under control. “In Vasco, we got reports of sporadic rise in suspected dengue. Now, some cases have come to light in Margao,” he said, while adding that the Health Services is geared up to meet any situation.
