Stay vigilant against dengue, urges Dimapur health official

DIMAPUR — Dimapur has not seen any confirmed dengue cases so far this year, despite unusual summer rains. This is a relief compared to last year, when the state faced an‘epidemiclike situation’, with a total of 4,318 dengue cases across Nagaland by the end of the year.

District Vector Borne Diseases (DVBD) Consultant Peter Sangtam credited the current situation to increased awareness and proactive measures. However, he urged the public to remain vigilant, as dengue cases typically rise later in the summer.

Sangtam said that in 2023, by June, eight cases had been reported in the state and the number had increased to an alarming 4,318 by December. Dimapur alone had 2,034 confirmed cases during the period, he said.

In 2022, only 151 dengue cases were reported.

The dengue surge led the Medical department to declare an epidemic on September 19, 2023, he added.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases also rose from nine in 2022 to 19 in 2023, including one fatality, while malaria cases decreased slightly from five in 2022 to four last year.

Sangtam attributed the 2023 surge to inadequate source reduction, citing mosquito breeding sites found during home visits as a major contributing factor. He also highlighted a lack of awareness as another concern, but expressed hope that last year’s situation would encourage proactive preventive measures among citizens.

He said that the DVBD is currently taking up various activities, particularly house-to-house visits to curb breeding sites at the source, as a measure to prevent an outbreak like the previous year.

“Although no confirmed positive cases have been reported till date, by the end of July or August, we can expect some cases of dengue. Therefore, source reduction is very important,” he said while pointing out the need to address waterlogging and mosquito breeding in open areas, which leads to an abnormal increase in dengue cases.

“The best way to control the mosquito population and bring down the cases is source reduction with the removal of mosquito breeding and breeding habitats,” he reiterated, adding that it would bring down the mosquito population.

As precautionary measures, he recommended the use of mosquito nets while sleeping, applying mosquito-repellent creams, avoiding stagnant water in the surroundings, and wearing body-covering clothes.

Further, he said, the DVBD plans to extend awareness campaigns to villages, promoting community participation in source reduction efforts to combat vector-borne diseases.