Suspected dengue epidemic hits CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, November 05 2011:
Suspected cases of dengue, one of the deadliest vector-borne diseases are on the rise in this restive township amid the State IDSP seeking a daily report on the status from the district health officials, as three more tested positive today.
District Malaria Officer, Dr F Thienkhogin today summoned a departmental meeting solely to counter the disease as increasing number of suspected cases is becoming a cause of worry for the Department.
"I have clustered our employees into seven groups to create awareness on the disease and to conduct a house-to-house survey.
They will start working beginning tomorrow", the DMO told The Sangai Express today.
The situation is not alarming so far as dengue is concerned as it is the first time that dengue cases have been reported in the district, he said, "It however needs a continuous observation" .
The Department has listed 12 cases of suspected dengue fever, with a single case of fatality, that tested positive for the Combo-Panel NSAG positive, but the exact figure is expected to be much higher.
Excel Diagnostic Centre, an authorised sample collection centre of Babina Diagnostic Centre, Imphal, the only clinic that has the facility to test dengue has sent more than 20 samples to Babina Diagnostic Centre since October 19, and most of them have tested positive, according to an insider.
Ironically, many of these cases are not included in the list provided by the DMO.
Out of the eight samples EDC has currently awaited from Babina, test results of three samples have reached here later today and all three have tested positive.
The results have raised concern over the fate of hundreds who are sufferiung from fever with similar symptoms of dengue in the past months and who are still suffering as many have recovered without undergoing the test while many others are still suffering.
According to the DMO, fogging has been carried out in atleast four localities, but the magnitude of the fever that has plagued the township suggested that much more needs to be done.
Sensing the urgency of the stituation, officials of the State IDSP headed by its Additional Director Dr Bubon and Joint Director Dr Ritendra have visited the district today and hold a marathon discussion on the situation with the district medical officials.
The visiting officials have reportedly assured to provide a vehicle-mounted fogging machine to the DMO while they also sought a daily update on the situation.
It is pertinent to mention that dengue was first confirmed in the district on October 11, 2011 after a man with high fever was called up by her sister, a working nurse in AIIMS, to Delhi as she feared it could be the deadly dengue.
The man was diagnosed of dengue at a Delhi hospital awakening the unsuspecting medical fraternity here.
Subsequent tests recommended by a vigilant doctor on the father-daughter duo after the mother (wife) expired of fever identical to theirs, tested positive as well.
Considering the extensiveness of the presence of dengue-like fever in the length and breadth of the town, the response of the State Health Department almost a month after the first case was confirmed seems piecemeal as awareness or preventive measure taken up till date lacks a mass scale.
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