Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 6
Three people have died and more than 100 estimated are affected by a disease in Mon district’s Wakching block. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
“There is a diarrhea outbreak. We are unable to confirm the exact disease as samples for testing have been sent to Kohima and Mon civil hospital,” said Dr. Kuotho speaking from Wanching village Primary Health Centre where the outbreak was first reported.
The first two patients, one 90 years of age and another above 80 years, died within four hours of catching the diarrhea and continuous vomiting on the morning of August 3. They are from Wakching village and Wanching village each. Another patient of around 80 years from Chingphoi village succumbed to the disease on August 5.
On August 5 alone, 35 patients were brought to the Wanching PHE for treatment. Others were referred to Wakching PHE for better healthcare, informed Dr. Kuotho.
“The number has come down today. But the disease has been detected in neighbouring villages within Wakching block. Some patients have also been referred to Mon Civil Hospital for further treatment,” he said.
Mon district Civil Hospital is 40 km away from Wanching village. “At first, families were hiring vehicles to transport the sick to Mon Civil Hospital, or sending them by pick-up trucks even. But ambulances from the medical department are available now,” informed Shongna Konyak, an Associate Professor at Wangkhao Government College in Mon and citizen of Wanching village. The district administration was initially cut off due to Assam bandh but has now been able to mobilize help for suffering patients. “Those affected became ill and weak very quickly,” Konyak said while speaking to The Morung Express.
Seven secondary doctors from neighbouring PHEs have been mobilized to Wanching PHE to take control of the situation. Doctors suspect that the disease may be spreading through an oral route due to water or food contamination following heavy rains in the area.
Sanitation, clean drinking water and proper toilets remain a concern in interior villages of Nagaland. Open defecation allows flies and other insects to contaminate water or food sources and spread the resultant disease onwards. Rain also contributes to spreading contaminated sources.
“People should wash hands while cooking and serving food, cook food properly, boil water before drinking and build toilets to avoid open defecation,” advised Dr. Kuotho.
