Prepared for JE eventuality — Health authorities

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, July 18: Even as the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus has claimed 97 lives in Assam, and a few cases being detected in Arunachal Pradesh, health authorities in Dimapur have assured that they are doing their best to spread awareness to the people, and how to take precautionary measures if the virus breaks out in the district.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dimapur, Vikato Kinimi told Eastern Mirror on Thursday that several awareness programmes have been conducted with the district administration, village councils, and other health units. They were also told to remain alert and be prepared to face any incidence at different levels if there is an outbreak of the JE virus.

So far, there has no report of such cases in Nagaland, he said. Kinimi said that if it occurs, it might be due to immigration of people from Assam and adjoining areas.

According to him, vaccines were available at the district government health and clinical units. Blood test centres were requested to be prepared to conduct tests for the virus and to send samples to the district hospital.

He informed that studies are being conducted on insects to detect the prevalence of virus-carrying mosquitoes.

According to the CMO, JE virus is ‘more serious than dengue.’ He urged the citizens to ‘keep the surroundings clean and to avoid bites from mosquitoes, especially residents near Assam-Nagaland border.’

“One female mosquito lays 400 eggs five times before it dies,” he said and added that the breeding places of the mosquitoes should be destroyed for prevention.

Awareness campaigns will be conducted in Mediziphema area in the coming days, he informed. Fogging operations are also being planned to be conducted in vulnerable areas, he added.

‘Avail family planning services’

With the ongoing programme on World Population Fortnight for Family Planning being conducted all over the state, Kinimi has urged the people to avail the free medical facilities provided by the Dimapur district hospital.

According to Kinimi, the treatment has two types of method: permanent and temporary.

Permanent method for male sterilisation includes vasectomy, and tube ligation for female. Further, temporary method for male includes supply of condoms. For female, the method include oral contraceptive pills and Copper-T injection. The programme will continue till July 24.