Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 19
Against the backdrop of rising cases of dengue fever, the Dimapur Municipal Council on Saturday organized an awareness programme for Urban Colony Council leaders and GBs at its office premises with Doctors from District Hospital as the speakers.
Speaking at the programme, Dimapur District Vector Borne Disease Officer, Dr. Moa disclosed that out of 573 reported dengue cases at the District Hospital so far, 106 have been tested positive. “But there has not been any cases of death reported so far out of dengue,” he added.
Informing that the District Hospital has an ELISA-based dengue detection kit approved by World Health Organization to detect confirmed cases of dengue, Dr. Moa urged upon public to get themselves tested for free instead of paying for similar tests at private institutions.
He informed that dengue carrier mosquito called Aedes bites during the day time and is found inside homes like kitchen, walls, bathroom, moist areas and stagnant places while malaria carrier mosquitoes bite at night time.
According to the doctor, symptoms of dengue include fever, bodyache, eye pain, rashes on body resembling measles and bleeding. He advised the public to get tested immediately if they experience any of the symptoms.
“Unlike last year, where dengue fever was reported mostly from Lengrijan and DC Court area, this year the cases are reported from entire town till Chumukedima with highest cases reported from Diphupar and Burma Camp areas,” Dr. Moa informed.
Assistant Director Urban Malaria, Kiko informed that the department has been conducting dengue flogging since September as well as distributing larvivorous fish to the public to prevent the disease. He said that the first round of flogging has been completed and has started the second round with three groups covering at least nine colonies every night. Kiko said that the department plans to cover all the colonies in Dimapur within 10 days and appealed the public for their cooperation.
Kiko also urged the public not to panic since with the onset of Winter session, the dengue causing mosquito will slowly disappear.
DMC Administrator, H. Atokhe appealed the colony leaders to directly involve in the disease control measures by cooperating with the authorities.
Prevention and control measures for Dengue
Dengue is a viral disease caused by the Aedes Mosquito which bites in day time only. It breeds in any type of manmade containers where water can collect. Therefore follow the given instructions:
1. All water storage containers should be covered.
2. Remove/destroy all disposable, unused materials lying around the houses like old tyres, broken pots, crockery etc.
3. Dry all water storage utensils, coolers, flower vases, fridge trays at least once a week.
4. Fill up ditches and other unwanted water collection sites around the houses.
5. Put insecticides, petrol, kerosene oil in cooler, AC trays etc which cannot be emptied or clean.
6. Wear clothes that cover the whole body in day time.
7. Use mosquito repellent lotion/creams etc.
8. Pregnant women and children should sleep under mosquito net during day time.
If every household follows the instructions the mosquito breeding areas will be destroyed and will stop the cycle of transmission in the locality.
Dimapur District Disaster Management Committee
