The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has urged all the residents under the municipality to completely remove or drain out stagnant water from household utensils, flowerpots, drains within their respective house compounds to contain the recent outbreak of dengue in Dimapur district.
In an order on Saturday, the council said there would be mass social work for removal of stagnant water in respective household every Saturday from 7 am to 8 am from August to November. It has directed colony chairpersons or gaonburhas to monitor the social work.
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The order also authorised them to impose a fine of Rs 100 if they find any household with stagnant water within its compound.
An awareness programme was organised by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in collaboration with DMC and Dimapur chief medical officer at town hall here on Friday in an attempt to achieve a dengue-free Dimapur.
During the event, DMC administrator Moa Sangtam sought public participation to control dengue.
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On the mass social work in colonies under Dimapur municipality area, Sangtam said unlike the usual sanitation drives on the roadsides, this social work will based on one’s kitchen and compound.
Starting from next Saturday, every household in Dimapur will begin with the ‘home social work’ from 7 am to 8 am, he added.
A consultant at Christian Institute of Health and Scientific Research, Dr Rohan, elaborated on the causes, signs and symptoms of dengue.
Stating that dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of aedes mosquito, also known as tiger mosquito, he said a person bitten by aedes mosquito will develop the disease only after four to ten days.
Also, informing that the confirmatory test of dengue is available only at Dimapur district hospital, he cautioned that one must avoid getting injection or any kinds of medicine prescription in pharmacies or private hospitals, as these institutions cannot give concrete result, which in turn may lead to complications.
But for emergency cases, one may take paracetamol tablets, he advised.
According to him, Dimapur district registered a total of 357 dengue cases in 2017, with highest enrolment of 181 in the month of November.
Like HIV, there is no cure to dengue, he said. However, one can keep the surroundings clean and free from stagnant water, as this is the only way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Assistant director of Urban Vector Borne Diseases Scheme, Kiko Kheiya, said the urban local bodies can aid in the dengue prevention process by implementing programmes to manage sewage, drainage, and solid waste.