Nagaland: Dengue cases see drastic drop in 2019

A mosquito-control fogging operation being undertaken at a place in Chumukedima in response to the Dengue outbreak last year. After years of increase in Dengue cases, Nagaland has seen a drastic decline of incidence with only one confirmed case reported in the state so far this year. (File Photo) 

From 369 cases in 2018 to 1 confirmed case in 2019 till date
 

Imkong Walling
Dimapur 29 | September

After a successive three-year run of relatively high Dengue outbreaks in Nagaland, year 2019 has so far been mellow witnessing a drastic and observable drop in the incidence of the mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) ailment. Dengue has come to be associated with the monsoon but this year has been surprisingly different with Nagaland and Dimapur in particular yet to report a major outbreak.

As per state health officials, only 1 confirmed Dengue case has been reported till date this year. This was out of 3 positive cases detected by the Sentinel Surveillance Site Laboratory (SSSL), District Hospital Dimapur. The health officials maintained two of the cases originated outside the state with one of the patients said to be an Assam Rifles jawan from Imphal. The other was a local but with a recent travel history outside the state.

Around this time in 2018, the figure stood at 240 positive cases— 235 in Dimapur and 5 in Kohima. The year ended with a total of 369 people testing positive, as per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

By the first week of October 2017, the number of positive cases detected in Dimapur stood at 67.

As reported by The Morung Express in 2018 citing official figures, Dengue incidence markedly increased in the state since 2015 with more than 90 percent of the cases reported from Dimapur.

 From 21 positive cases in 2015, it jumped to 142 in 2016 and increasing by over two-folds in 2017 to 357.  Only one fatality is on official record, which occurred in 2015.

There were other unconfirmed reports of fatality. In 2016, two suspected Dengue deaths were reported at two private hospitals in Dimapur but it was not established officially.

Dengue becomes prominent as the monsoon progresses and as per entomological research, the post monsoon period before the onset of winter is also believed to be the most vulnerable phase before subsiding.  

In 2018, the first case was detected and officially recorded towards the end of July. The first case in 2017 was detected in August and the last batch of suspected samples to test positive were in December. In 2016, the first case was detected in the first week of October and the last batch of samples testing positive was also in December.  

 
Dengue was first detected in Nagaland in 2009 with 25 reported cases and two suspected cases in 2010. This figure is as per a news publication of The Morung Express dating to July 2011 from data disclosed at an NVBDCP awareness workshop conducted in Dimapur.

Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur Dr K Vikato Kinimi attributed the unexpected drop to increased community awareness. While stating the “public have become more aware,” he also credited awareness programmes of the state Heath & Family Welfare Department and control measures adopted by the NVBDCP.  Asked if the Department can rest assured, he said, “We cannot guarantee what will happen next year. We are still continuing with control measures.”

Two JE fatalities 
While there has been a respite from Dengue thus far, two Japanese Encephalitis (JE) fatalities have been reported from Dimapur. The deaths were out of a total of 14 positive cases confirmed by the Sentinel Lab in Dimapur. 

Initially, 9 JE cases were confirmed by the Sentinel Lab in Dimapur in July, which increased to 14.  However, there has been no detection of JE cases since, informed the NVBDCP, Dimapur.

Of the 14 confirmed cases detected by the Sentinel Lab, 7 were from Dimapur, 2 from Mokokchung and 5 from Assam.