Dengue, chikungunya grip Canacona

| AUGUST 24, 2019, 02:14 AM IST

the goan I network

CANACONA

In a startling disclosure, health officials at the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC) have recorded 42 dengue and chikungunya cases in Canacona taluka since July.  

Taluka health officials have raised an alarm and have strongly advised people to tackle mosquito breeding sites in their areas.  

Speaking to media persons, CHC health officials said there has been an alarming increase in detection of dengue and chikungunya cases in Canacona taluka since July. “In July, the CHC detected 8 dengue and 9 chikungunya cases, besides 7 cases diagnosed with both (mixed) viruses of dengue and chikungunya. In August (till Thursday), the number of cases detected were dengue (7), chikungunya (3) and mixed (8) and treatment is underway,” CHC Medical 

Officer Dr Navjyot Halarnkar said.  

Responding to a pointed question, Dr Halarnkar admitted that figures during this period were significantly higher during the same period last year.  

Stating that one of the main culprits for these higher vector-borne cases was the increasing trend towards ‘water storage’ facilities, thereby giving rise to mosquito breeding sites, Dr Halarnkar appealed for public cooperation to tackle the menace by doing away with the mosquitoes breeding sites.  

Elaborating on the issue of water storage trends in the taluka, Canacona Sanitary Inspector Pranay Naik said storage of water without proper cover for long periods was a perfect breeding ground for dengue-causing mosquitoes.  

“May be, our emphasis was more on reducing accumulation of dirty water and this has been largely reduced. But people have begun resorting to unprotected clean-water storage systems like uncovered ground tanks, overhead tanks, uncovered soakpits, broken soakpit pipelines, etc., which have greatly increased dengue and chikungunya cases in the taluka,” said Naik.  

Stating that health officials are conducting weekly inspections to construction sites and other mosquito-prone areas such as mass rental accommodations and shanties, Naik said health cards are issued and renewed every three months and added that blood samples are regularly collected.  

“But open defecation is also a major issue even as construction contractors and landlords renting out premises are regularly issued with sanitary instructions,” said Naik.  

“At Chaudi and surrounding areas, we see a lot of rooms rented out without proper toilet facilities and people resort to open defecation. Roadside drains are also blocked at many places, while public toilets are in bad shape and mosquitoes are noticed in such surroundings areas,” Naik said.  

Stating that notices have been served to contractors, landlords and others for ignoring sanitation requirements, Naik said if the first notice is ignored, health officials issue a second notice threatening to disconnect essential services such as electricity and water connections.   

“Most violators fall in line, but the surroundings are still prone to mosquito-breeding and this leads to vector-borne diseases,” said Naik.  

“We have even conducted awareness programmes in schools and educational institutions, so that proper message goes on the need to stop mosquito breeding sites,” he added.  

The Canacona sanitary inspector made it clear that fumigation of sites was not a certain method to completely prevent vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya.  

“Fumigation with fogging machines will not completely stop the spread of mosquitoes. If you fog one place, infected mosquitoes can survive and travel to another area, breed and infect people with the virus.”  

“Just like malaria/filaria virus, infected mosquitoes breed in dirty water and so, water storage facilities should be cleaned regularly as mosquitoes need just 8-10 days to breed in even clean water. Mosquitoes transmitting dengue and chikungunya viruses breed in clean water stored uncovered for longer periods,” said Naik. 

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