Nagaland has so far reported 2899 Dengue cases as on October 26, 2023, Health department officials said on Friday. Though there have been several Dengue related deaths particularly due to comorbidity, the department recorded only one death, being reported from Mon district till date.
Addressing the media here, National Health Mission (NHM) mission director Dr E Motsuthung Patton disclosed that the first dengue case was detected at Mishikito village, Dimapur on June 15, 2023 and the disease started to spread to other parts the state.
He claimed that entomological team of the state acted immediately and conducted comprehensive survey that confirmed the presence of dengue vectors. Patton said that Nagaland was not the only state experiencing an outbreak of dengue, as other states too were recording a surge in dengue cases.
Call for source reduction measures: Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) joint director Dr Vezokhulu Theyo, who was also present, said entomological surveys, case investigation, source reduction campaigns, and house-to-house visits to minimise vector sources were being conducted in the state, while raising awareness about the disease.
He cited rapid urbanisation, favourable environmental conditions, climate change, and recent floods in Dimapur and other low-lying areas of the state as the key factors that helped spread dengue in the state, with only one district remaining unaffected.
He revealed that there were various types of dengue, including mild dengue fever and the more severe dengue haemorrhagic fever, adding, “Based on clinical correlations, we are not observing a virulent type according to the records of the Health & Family Welfare department.”
Theyo appealed to the community to actively engage in efforts aimed at mitigating and eradicating the viral disease by ensuring cleanliness in their surroundings and minimising potential breeding sites for the mosquitoes.
He stressed reducing sources, cautioning that stagnant water could serve as a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. He declared that unless the sources were reduced, the dengue mosquitoes would persist.
He urged the public not to panic as major pandemics had been overcome, adding that this too would be overcome by working collectively. He claimed that constant monitoring and surveillance were being carried out.
He noted that there had been a significant blood donation drive, and that many individuals had willingly come forward to donate blood. Providing annual statistics, the joint director disclosed that 85 sample tests were conducted in 2009, resulting in 25 positive cases. In 2010, there were 23 sample tests, but no positive cases were detected.
Referring to the recurring pattern of dengue cases, he remarked that with a noticeable surge in case numbers, this pattern corresponded to the trend observed in other parts of the country.
National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme’s state programme officer Dr Tinurenla said the Central government did not officially record cases that tested positive through rapid test (RTD) as dengue because RTDs often yielded false positives.
She clarified that as per the vector-borne programme, they were required to report only positive cases confirmed through the Elisa test. Even if someone tested positive in RTD, a confirmatory Elisa test was necessary, she added.
She stressed community involvement in preventing the viral disease by maintaining surroundings and eliminating standing water sources, which served as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, particularly in stagnant waters found in items such as tyres, trees, flower pots, and other containers. She emphasised that community participation was essential in the battle against dengue.
Sharing an update on the dengue situation in Mon district, NHM state programme officer Dr Mereninla said that extra beds have been put in place while also more manpower have been deputed. She also revealed that the Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjum (KBBB) had contributed Rs 5 lakh, of which Rs 4 lakh was donated to the district hospital and Rs 1 lakh to Rapha Hospital.
Presenting the yearly data of the state, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) deputy director Dr Nyan Kikon said 85 sample tests were conducted in 2009, of which 25 tested positive. However, in 2010, 23 sample tests were conducted, and no positive cases were detected.
Subsequent years saw variations in the number of sample tests and the corresponding positive cases, with an evident cyclical pattern of dengue cases, closely resembling the trends observed in other parts of the country.