Canacona health officials caution against dengue outbreak

Canacona: Community health centre Canacona (CHC) has cautioned locals to be aware of the dengue and malaria outbreak which normally raises its ugly head during the monsoon months.

Last year, during May and June, a sudden outbreak of dengue cases was detected by the CHC staff, said CHC sanitary inspector Pranay Naik.

The main reason behind this outbreak was the unsafe water storage practice followed by the residents due to a shortage of water, which is supplied to them by water tankers.

All locals in Gaondongrim areas are using water barrels and other containers to store water, and they normally do not use caps or lids to close them, which is a ready-made source for mosquitoes to lay eggs, said Naik. He said within eight days, the mosquitoes complete their life cycle and become adult mosquitoes. These are the main causes for spreading these vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, he added.

Everyone should be aware that the monsoon starts soon, and everybody must avoid places with stagnant water and remove unwanted containers, unused tyres, plastics, coconut shells, etc., to prevent rainwater storage, said nodal officer for the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) Dr Sneha Chodankar.

Dr Chodankar instructed the people to keep their surroundings clear of such things, which give rise to mosquito breeding.

Panchayat and municipality should arrange drives to educate locals on how dangerous these diseases can be, which can even kill people if not treated early.