26 new positive cases the past week taking total to 99
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 15
Dengue continues to surge in Dimapur as 26 new positive cases were detected during the past one week. From 73 confirmed cases last week, the number of samples testing positive rose to 99 on November 15 out of a total of 552 samples tested at the Sentinel Surveillance Site Lab, District Hospital, Dimapur. There has so far been no official confirmation of fatality but at least 2 people were reported to have succumbed to the virus since the first outbreak was reported in early October.
With the Nagaland State Government yet to sound the alarm of a possible vector-borne epidemic at its doorstep, the figures are otherwise alarming as the number of positive cases being reported this year has been unprecedented since the first Dengue case was recorded in Nagaland in 2009. During October-November 2015, there were as many as 22 positive cases out of over a hundred suspected samples screened in Dimapur while there was one reported fatality.
The prevalence rate, according to reports, has been quite disturbing as private hospitals and nursing homes in Dimapur are reported to be admitting patients with Dengue-like symptoms on a daily basis. Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, State Programme Officer, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), maintained that the state Health Department is keeping track of the outbreak. Speaking to The Morung Express on Tuesday, Dr. Kevichusa informed that mosquito-control operations are being carried out regularly in selected localities where outbreak has been reported. Asked to comment on the threat level, he replied, “Can’t say it is alarming. Prevalence rate in our state is quite low in comparison to other NE states… It cannot be termed (at this stage) as an epidemic.”
He though added that the department is intensifying fogging operations. While department intervention is crucial, he said that community participation is just as important. Dr Moa Jamir, Dimapur District Programme Officer, NVBDCP further informed that intensive fogging exercise is being conducted colony-wise almost daily since October. The district wing was reported to have acquired 4 new malathion fogging machines at the start of the year after finally phasing out the unreliable old ones bought over 20 years ago. Acquiring machines is one thing, keeping it supplied is another issue altogether.
At the rate Dimapur is reporting mosquito-borne illnesses, it is still to be seen how effective the machines and the accompanying operations would turn out.
Dr. Moa added that the district NVBDCP personnel covered sections of Chumukedima on November 14 followed by Burma Camp today. Lengrijan and DC office are will be covered on November 16 and sections of Notun Basti, Island colony and LRC will be covered the day after. Diphupar ‘A’ and Burma Camp have been the places where the maximum number of positive cases has been reported from, he added.
Meanwhile the Chief Medical Officer Dimapur has issued a notification requesting the public to help by keeping their residential areas clean by removing stagnant water; covering water containers; wearing protective clothing and removing water clogged areas.
