A seminar on “dengue surveillance and outbreak response” was held on Wednesday at NTB seminar hall, Faith Hospital, Dimapur with Professor Dr. Bertrand Lefebvre from EHESP School of Public Health, Paris, France as resource person.
Speaking in the seminar, Dr. Bertrand explained about dengue virus and transmission and its four viral serotypes, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4, which are closely related but differ in their antigens.
He informed that dengue virus once infected humans become the main carrier and multipliers of the virus, serving as a source of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes.
Dr. Bertrand said the virus circulates in the blood for 2-7 days after the human was affected, during which the mosquito may acquire the virus by biting the infected human and spread it to another unsuspecting victim.
He said 4 million people living in 128 countries are at risk of infection, while each year 400 million new infections are detected out of which 100 million manifests as illness.
Dr. Bertrand termed dengue as a serious infection especially among children and added that dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever spreads from human-to-human by the bite of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
He stressed that many species of mosquito under the genus Aedes transmit dengue especially the Aedes aegypti species was involved in spreading the infection and has been considered as the main cause of dengue. This species of mosquito breeds in stagnant water and usually bites during daylight hours, added Dr. Bertrand.
Dr. Bertrand advised people to avoid stagnant water in and around the house, as these are the favorite places for mosquitoes to lay eggs and advised people to store water in closed containers.
Dr. Bertrand also urged upon the churches, schools, NGOs etc to spread awareness and practice to control the vector borne disease.
Speaking to Nagaland Post on the sideline of the seminar, managing director of Faith Hospital and CEO of Dimapur Medical Mission (DMM), Dr. Shukato A Sema, informed that the seminar was organized to stay updated on the latest research going on in the field of dengue.
He also informed that DMM would be initiating an intensive programme to help control the dengue epidemic in Dimapur.
He said that 10 % of Faith Hospital income would also go to the mission.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by RMO Faith Hospital, Dr Thungbemo. The seminar was followed by discussions and interactions.