PANJIM: Deputy Director of Health Services Dr Kalpana Mahatme has appealed to people to take precautions inorder to prevent spread of vector borne diseases during monsoon.
Delivering a talk to the students of Junior Red Cross and Youth Red Cross from Fairy Land High School, Batim, Goa Velha, Fr Agnelo Higher Secondary School, Pilar, Our Lady of Merces High School, Merces and V M Parulekar Higher Secondary School, Verem, Bardez at a programme organised by the Indian Red Cross Society, Goa State office, Panjim, Dr Mahatme said the best way is to engage and involve the community in an effective manner and make them conscious about the vector borne diseases is to prevent it's spreading.
"Construction sites are likely breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Migrant workers may serve as carriers who transport parasites. Unused swimming pools should be checked for mosquito breeding and guppy fish introduced in these unused water bodies. Other viral diseases transmitted by vectors include chikungunya fever, Zika virus fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis," advised the health officer.
Dr Mahatme stressed on early diagnosis and treatment within 24 hours of fever. "Public awareness about malaria is a key factor in prevention and control and measures of bite prevention are most important," she said.