Health dept issues monsoon advisory for vector-borne disease prevention

With the onset of monsoon and the associated surge in mosquito-borne illnesses, the department of Health and Family Welfare, under the Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, has issued an advisory urging the public across Nagaland to adopt timely and preventive measures to combat vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis.
In an advisory issued by Dr. Neisakho Kere, joint director & SPO National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, the department informed that with the arrival of rainfall, water tends to accumulate around households, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread various diseases. Notably, cases of malaria and dengue have already been detected in the state.
The Health department stressed that even small collections of stagnant water could be sufficient for mosquito breeding, urging the public to take corrective actions on a weekly basis to eliminate potential breeding sites. Public cooperation, the department emphasized, remains the most crucial factor in controlling and preventing vector-borne diseases.
Key preventive measures: Remove stagnant water around homes and clear discarded materials that may collect rainwater; check surroundings weekly to prevent mosquito breeding; wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites; use mosquito repellents, window screens, and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) provided by the government.
(Details on p-6)