Rise in mosquito borne diseases : 'Weather change responsible'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2019: Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar has conveyed that the drastic change in climate is to blame for the rise in cases of mosquito borne diseases like Japanese Encephalitis, adding that out of a total 960 suspected cases of Japanese Encephalitis as on August 5/6, 90 have been found positive.

He made the statement during a mosquito net disinfection workshop which was held at Pishumthong Ningom Leirak under the aegis of Ningom Leirak NPP Development Committee today.

Speaking to media persons, the Minister said that the unpredictable weather pattern, intensely hot days followed by rain, has resulted in rise of mosquito borne diseases.

The Minister informed that out of the 90 positive cases in areas including Thoubal, Imphal Est and Senapati, some have ended with the death of the patient.

He assured that to protect against such diseases, the Department is working tirelessly to carry out fogging in various areas of the State, adding that disinfection of mosquito nets has been carried out with the aim to contain the situation and prevent any further cases in future.

Informing that such disinfection work is also being carried out in the rural areas as well, Jayantakumar said that necessary training has been imparted to the Department employees and various teams have been formed and assigned for the respective districts.

As soon as any case of mosquito borne illness breaks out, the teams will be deployed at the earliest, he said, appealing to the people settled in area where pigs and livestocks are common, to approach the Veterinary and Malaria Department to take up necessary precautionary measures.

On the other hand, the Minister spoke about an incident on social media which went viral and which claimed that an official of the Health Department allegedly refused an appeal by a club of Heirok to distribute chemicals for controlling mosquito saying that there were no chemicals at the moment.

Appealing the people to forgive the Department for such lapses and situations, the Minister reasoned that the incident might have been due to the suddenness of the situation as well as the unavailability of the chemical at that certain period of time due to shortage in stock.

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