Dengue cases on the rise with 144 infected
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12 2023:
Dengue cases are on the rise in Manipur with the State so far detecting 144 cases of the mosquito-borne viral disease this year till yesterday with Singjamei Yumnam Leikai in Imphal West alone reporting 17 cases.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, State Malaria Officer of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme Dr Sanasam Gopal said that Manipur usually witnesses an uptick in dengue cases during the monsoon season.
In the past, dengue cases were mostly reported in the period between July and November, he continued.
Saying that cases of dengue infections have now been reported in January too, possibly due to change in climate pattern, Dr Gopal informed that the State Malaria Department maintains the record of dengue cases.
He further said that 203 cases of dengue were reported in 2021 in Manipur and the figure was much higher in 2022 with 503 cases detected.
Continuing that the State has so far detected 144 dengue cases this year (till August 10), Dr Gopal elaborated that 90 cases were reported from Imphal West, 18 from Imphal East, 12 from Thoubal, 11 from Bishnupur, four each from Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, two from Chandel and one each from Senapati and Tengnoupal.
Not a single case of dengue has been reported as of yet from six hill districts viz Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Jiribam, Noney, Kamjong and Pherzawl this year, he added.
Though the office record of dengue case in Tengnoupal was put at just one, at least three State commando personnel who were evacuated from Moreh tested dengue positive on testing 11 personnel at RIMS four-five days back, he informed and added that their names have been recorded in their respective districts though they got infected from Moreh.
Saying that 17 cases of dengue were also detected from Singjamei Yumnam Leikai in the first week of August and it is the highest cases recorded from a single locality for the year till now, Dr Gopal maintained that five-six cases of the viral disease were also reported from Moirangkhom and Singjamei Thongam Leikai.
He went on to state that mass surveys are underway at certain areas to detect dengue cases.
Saying that a dengue patient will remain positive for the viral disease for another two-three months even after recuperating from dengue fever, he added that no medicine or vaccine has been developed as of yet to cure the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dr Gopal continued that a dengue patient with mild symptoms has to be given fluid therapy and make them take adequate rest if they show fatigue and administer paracetamol and put a wet towel on the forehead if he/she has high temperature.
For serious cases, they have to be admitted at a hospital for proper treatment, he advised.
Dr Gopal also advised the people to wear long clothes and use mosquito repellent cream to prevent mosquito bites.
A mosquito will become infected with dengue virus when it takes the blood of a person already infected with the virus and it transmits the virus to a healthy person through bites, he cautioned.
Stating that there are three types of dengue infections viz dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome, he added that it is the dengue fever which is common in Manipur.
There are no reports of dengue shock syndrome which is the deadliest among the three which can even make people unconscious, as of yet, he added.
Saying the cases of dengue are higher in urban areas where there is a thick population, Dr Gopal conveyed that aedes aegypti which causes dengue fever breeds at water holding containers and unused tyres, vessels and empty objects which hold rainwater.
He further said that aedes aegypti can even breed at the drain outlet of a refrigerator.
Aedes aegypti are mostly active at daytime only, Dr Gopal added.
Saying that they have been taking up certain programmes, fogging drives and raising awareness among the people to prevent outbreak of dengue, he appealed to the people to cooperate with the Government in preventing dengue outbreak.
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