Dengue cases in Nagaland on decline: H&FW department

KOHIMA — Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), Dr. Ritu Thurr, on Tuesday, said that dengue cases in the state have declined, as of now.

Speaking on the sidelines of a programme at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), Kohima, the official said dengue cases have been fluctuating and only “very few” rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were confirmed as dengue fever.

All the RDTs are not dengue cases, he said while adding that the tests are sometimes “misleading” and cases were “overdiagnosed.”

Dengue is an endemic disease and was initially confined to Dimapur and Mon districts, but now spread across the state as reports of dengue cases have been received from districts other than Mon and Dimapur, he said.

From the beginning, state Health department set up a control room and has been monitoring the cases reported from the respective districts. As of now, the cases have already declined, Thurr said.

Pointing out that the trigger point of dengue is due to poor sanitation and water sewage management, he appealed to the citizens to keep their surroundings clean.

The health official also maintained that the Health department has carried out enough IEC sensitisation programmes through different platforms, including churches. Funds were also released to respective districts and fogging was conducted in areas where a spike in dengue cases was reported, he added.

On reported cases of rashes and fever among children, he said the department has, so far, not received such information.

For any new emergent diseases, all the districts have been put on alert as per an epidemiological report, he said.

Also read: DVBD consultant updates on dengue cases in Dimapur