National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Department of Health & Family Welfare, has urged all private and public healthcare providers to screen all fever cases for malaria. In a press release, principal director H&FW, Dr. E Motsuthung Patton said it was crucial that no malaria case goes undetected as the state was in the elimination phase.
To ensure early diagnosis, proper case management, and a reduction in malaria burden, the department informed that the state government mandates all healthcare providers, NGOs, civil society partners, and other stakeholders to report every malaria case to the respective authorities.
The department said that positive case details must be immediately conveyed to the chief medical officer, the district vector borne disease (VBD) officer, or the state programme officer to enable epidemiological assessment and the implementation of necessary preventive measures.
Doctors in government health institutions and registered private medical practitioners are required to immediately notify the district health authority if a confirmed malaria case is detected in their respective healthcare facilities.
Under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (Act No. 3 of 1897), the department said failure to comply with these regulations will be deemed an offense punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). Strict legal actions will be taken against those who do not adhere to the mandatory reporting requirements.
NVBDCP has sought the cooperation of all healthcare providers, organizations, and individuals in this collective effort to eliminate malaria and safeguard public health.
Mandatory dengue testing
NVBDCP has also urged all private and public healthcare providers to adhere strictly to the issued notification regarding dengue testing and reporting. The department reminded that a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) positive result for Dengue was only indicative of a probable case.
Therefore, the department stated that all RDT-positive cases must be confirmed through ELISA testing at designated district hospitals in Dimapur, Mokokchung, Wokha, Kiphire, Mon, and NHAK.
NVBDCP stated that the state government mandates all healthcare providers to notify every Dengue case to the chief medical officer of the district on a weekly basis, and daily during the transmission period.
The department stated that a case with a Non-ELISA based NS1 antigen/IgM positive result from an RDT would be considered probable due to the poor sensitivity and specificity of currently available RDTs.
Further, the NVBDCP informed that all blood samples of suspected Dengue cases must be sent to the Sentinel Surveillance Hospital (SSH) for ELISA-based testing.
A patient can only be declared Dengue-positive based on ELISA results and not on RDT results.
It stated that RDT-based testing (using NS1 or IgM) can only indicate a probable Dengue case, while IgG testing alone is not a valid indicator.
Healthcare providers have been urged to promptly report all confirmed Dengue cases to the office of the respective chief medical officer immediately after diagnosis to facilitate proper epidemiological assessment and timely intervention.