In the last fortnight, Ponda taluka has seen the highest number of cases of chikungunya and dengue, even as a total of 271 cases of the former and 71 of the latter have been reported till date from the beginning of the year.
From July 24 to August 6, Ponda had 11 cases of chikungunya and three of dengue. A total of 90 blood samples were tested for chikungunya out of which 33 were confirmed positive for the disease.
Other places from where chikungunya cases were reported are Canacona (01), Betki (03), Bicholim (06), Aldona (02), Valpoi (05), Curtorim (02), Corlim (01), Sanquelim (01) and Madkai (01).
A total of 79 blood samples were tested for dengue out of which 11 cases were confirmed from Loutolim (01), Betki (01), Aldona (01), Margao (01), Vasco (03) and Shiroda (01).
The State is in the grip of chikungunya and dengue since August 2009 when the first local outbreak occurred in Quepem. After that there has been no respite even as the cases from January onwards this year have been on the decline, but the same is not appreciable.
H1N1: After four cases of swine flu were confirmed – three in Panjim and one in Margao – on Thursday, the health authorities are awaiting reports of three more samples that have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi.
Officials at the Directorate of Health Services, here, on Friday, said the reports of the three samples would come tonight or latest by tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, the three cases from Mormugao, Bardez and Ponda are being treated at the GMC in Bambolim.
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