Dimapur: Nagaland recorded 26 dengue-positive cases so far this year as compared to 4,943 cases in 2023 when there was an outbreak of the disease.
Sharing this information at a meeting convened by the commissioner and secretary, of the health and family welfare department, Anoop Khinchi, in Kohima, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) state programme officer and joint director Dr Neisakho Kere attributed the decrease to effective advocacy and awareness campaigns focused on source reduction.
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The meeting was called to take stock of dengue preparedness in the state.
Emphasising that all precautionary measures must be taken by the public for the prevention of dengue, Khinchi, in his address, noted that Nagaland currently has a few dengue cases.
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However, for the prevention of any vector-borne diseases, he urged the public to maintain clean surroundings by eliminating stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding sites, wearing long sleeves, and using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and repellents to prevent mosquito bites.
Khinchi specifically pointed out stagnant water in cups used during rubber plantations in Wokha and Dimapur and directed officials to notify the districts to take precautionary measures.
He emphasised the need to reiterate precautionary steps and educate the public about the peak times of mosquito activity for their safety.
He also inquired about the status of the dengue helpline, hospital preparedness, and the distribution of LLINs.
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Kere informed that the NVBDCP teams in the districts are actively conducting awareness programmes and checking domestic breeding sites to remove mosquito larvae. He noted that serotypes 1 and 2 were detected during last year’s outbreak.
He noted that since many people were affected by these serotypes, some immunity has developed, which may explain the lower number of cases this year. However, he cautioned that the arrival of serotypes 3 and 4 could lead to a spike in cases.
In Dimapur, where the house index was notably high last year, it has decreased this year thanks to mass awareness and intervention efforts.
Kere also mentioned that district hospitals have been informed to set up separate dengue wards.