Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08:
Churachandpur district is in the grip of an epidemic suspected to be Kala Azar, PK Mishra , DIG BSF told reporters during an informal chat at the BSF HQs at Koirengei today that one jawan had died due to the disease while another is undergoing treatment at the RIMS hospital.
However, it is uncertain that the disease is Kala Azar though it shows similar symptoms, he said.
Stating that the outbreak of such a disease is the first in Manipur, he said that BSF has received reports that another 47 persons of Molnom villages located around 17 Kms along the Churachandpur-Tipaimukh road may be infected by the mysterious disease.
Of them 21 are males, 19 are females and seven are children.
Mishra further said that the BSF jawan expired at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital on August 18 after he was airlifted from the State on August 15 due to non-availability of medicine.
The disease stuck the other jawan on September 4.He said that though the disease is prevalent in State like Bihar, Bengal and Orissa, its occurrence has never been officially reported in Manipur.
As such he has appraised the matter to the Advisor, Health Director and the Churachandpur CMO.
If the disease really turns out to be Kala Azar, then the consequences would be devastating as there is no medicine or treatment facility in the State.
Kala Azar has similar symptoms with Malaria with the onset of high fever in the earlier stages.
Later, the patient will witness patchy skin discoloration.
Ascertaining the disease could be carried out only through Bone Marrow Test of the patient.
Such facilities are not still available in Manipur, he said.
Even though is has been confirmed that the BSF jawan died due to Kala Azar, the outbreak of the disease has not been ascertained, said the BSF CMO.