Dr Nyanthung Kikon SPO, IDSP addresses the observance of World Zoonoses Day at the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) Conference Hall, Dimapur on July 7. (Photo Courtesy: CMO Dimapur)
• World Zoonoses Day observed in Dimapur • Bats for common Action Plan on Surveillance at the earliest
DIMAPUR, JULY 7 (MExN): A total of 211 dog bite cases were reported in Dimapur between January and March 2025, of which 209 involved stray dogs, a top State health official informed today.
Alarmingly, many dog owners do not vaccinate their pets, increasing the risk of rabies transmission, noted Dr Nyanthung Kikon, State Programme Officer (SPO), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), while presenting on the scenario of rabies in Nagaland, with a special focus on Dimapur.
Sharing data from the State’s rabies programme, initiated in 2022, at the observance of World Zoonoses Day at the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) Conference Hall, Dimapur on July 7, the SPO also noted that most dog bite cases are reported in children below 10 years, with 80% of the cases coming from pet dogs.
Medical officers under the CMO Dimapur attended the event, held under the theme “Preventing Future Pandemics.”
Dr Nyanthung also underscored the importance of adopting the “One Health” concept, emphasising the interconnectedness between humans, animals, and the environment.
He pointed out that human activities are leading to the emergence of new diseases and stressed the need to focus on zoonotic diseases prevalent in the state, such as rabies.
Rabies, being a notifiable disease, requires immediate reporting of any cases to the district and state health authorities, he added.
The SPO also highlighted the efforts of the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), which aims to achieve zero deaths by rabies by 2030. Under the NRCP, rabies vaccines are made available in all government health facilities, along with snakebite anti-venom.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Dr Yartenla Jamir, CMO Dimapur, highlighted the significance and the need for heightened awareness and effective management of zoonotic diseases since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vikeshe, DLDO Dimapur, also presented on the history of pandemics, citing examples of zoonotic spillovers that led to major outbreaks such as the Bubonic plague, Spanish flu, and COVID-19.
He listed some infectious diseases with the potential to cause future pandemics and discussed factors contributing to the re-emergence of zoonotic diseases, including increased demand for animal protein, unsustainable use of natural resources, exploitation of wildlife, and climate change.
Dr Molu Ozukum, Nodal Officer-NRCP, District Hospital Dimapur, presented on preventing future pandemics, covering the causes, consequences, and measures to reduce pandemic spread. He also highlighted the clinical management of rabies, scrub typhus, and Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
During the discussion hour, the members agreed to develop a common Action Plan on Surveillance at the earliest, for easy data sharing between the allied departments and to facilitate early warning signs in case of a potential outbreak.
Dr Kavito Zhimomi, District Programme Officer (DPO), CD-I Dimapur, chaired the programme, attended among others by Dr E Kopfoh, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Dimapur; Dr Amenla Imchen, CVO Chümoukedima; medical officers and staff under the CMO Dimapur office and the Veterinary Department
