Suspected cases of Dengue in CCpur catch Govt on wrong foot
3 dead RIMS incapacitated, JNIMS kitless
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 17 2011: Whereas many people been infected by an unknown disease suspected to be Dengue in Churachandpur district, the State Government has put in place little disease control measures or whatever measures the Government took up have fallen into complete disarray.

This was discovered during an investigation by The Sangai Express.

A man from New Lamka suspected to have been infected by Dengue was treated at Delhi and he was found positive for the same.

However, a top official of the State Health Services maintained that the man could have been infected by the same disease in the past.

Though a machine for conducting Dengue test has been installed in the State, other essential kits have not been procured yet.

The Health Commissioner based on the report that there were 33 cases of Dengue fever when the outbreak of Dengue in Churachandpur district was officially announced on November 11 .

The arrow points to the netless bed allotted to a patient with suspected Dengue in CCpur

The Health Department made the declaration after observing signs and symptoms shown by patients in addition to the reports collected from Babina Diagnostic Centre and Shija Hospitals.

Before officially declaring outbreak of dengue in Churachandpur, no laboratory test was conducted in any of the Government hospitals or in any of the medical laboratories approved by the Government.

Though seven blood samples were sent to RIMS for laboratory test, the machine broke down.

Even though JNIMS has three machines for conducting dengue test, the machines could not be utilised as kits necessary for the test have not been procured yet.

It was only yesterday that an official of the State Vector Borne Disease Control Society left for New Delhi taking 27 samples along with him.

On the other hand, the Health Department has been going too slow with the disease control measures.

People infected by the disease are being compelled to go for test in private hospitals/laboratories at high costs.

Some hospitals/laboratories are even withholding test results because the patients could not pay the fees for the tests.

This was discovered in the course of the investigation.

Even as the Chief Medical Officer, Churachandpur reported that the number of people who have died due to the disease suspected to be Dengue has reached three till yesterday, Health officials could not say with any degree of certainty whether or not tissues were collected from the victims to confirm whether they actually died of Dengue.

One Thianching (31) died yesterday with Dengue like symptoms but Health Department did not collect any form of sample.

The department has not done anything significant for people suffering from dengue like symptoms or the areas affected by it.

Though it was advised to provide bed nets to all the hospitalised patients at least for one week, none of the victims currently undergoing treatment in Churachandpur district hospital were seen using bed nets.

This is despite the fact the carrier mosquitoes can spread dengue during day time too.

Three more people suffering from dengue like symptoms were brought to Churachandpur district hospital today.