Situation is under control, says the state health department. The viral photos on social media of women and elderly persons, who are seen lying down in groups, are not related to the present outbreak. Persons in the viral photos are dengue-infected persons and the photos are misleading the public, it added
TFM Report
Manipur witnessed a sudden spurt in dengue cases in the last one month. The state has reported 35 confirmed cases by Wednesday after the state detected the first dengue infection in the first week of September. Among the infected, 20 were men, 10 women and five children. Chingmeirong area in Imphal East is the worst affected area with reports of 22 cases from the region. There is no report of death due to dengue so far.
Dengue cases were reported in seven districts — Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Tamenglong and Kangpokpi – indicating that the vector-borne disease has spread its tentacles across the state. However, the state health department while confirming the outbreak maintained that the situation is under control and there is no need to panic.
Officials of the Health department also said that though this is the first major dengue outbreak in Manipur, the viral photos on social media of women and elderly persons, who are seen lying down in groups, are not related to the present outbreak. Women and elderly persons in the viral photos are Dengue-affected persons and the photos are misleading the public, they added.
As dengue viruses are spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes, the health department suspected that spread might have started from an infected person arriving in the state from outside as no dengue case had been reported since then. The Chingmeirong area of Imphal East reports the maximum number of cases as several hotels and lodges are located nearby, they added.
State malaria officer Dr Rehman Chishti informed that fogging and larvicidal measures are presently being carried out in the affected areas and the situation is under control as the Aedes mosquito can only fly for 20/30 feet. They become active only during day time and are not nocturnal, he added.
Dr Rehman Chishti also said that the first time an infected person can have symptoms of vomiting, headache, joint pain and is mostly non-fatal and even a 70 year old who is presently dengue positive is asymptomatic. However, getting dengue again can be fatal, he added. There is no specific treatment for a Dengue patient, the virus runs its course within a week to ten days, he said.
The first case in Chigmeirong area was detected by medical officer-in-charge of Kakching Dr Surjit. He saw suspected dengue symptoms in three persons near his residence at Imphal East and reported the matter to the state malaria officer. When their samples were tested positive on October 18 and the preventive measures have been taken up since then, said the official of state health department
Dr Chishti said that under the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Program, samples are being collected from individuals suspected to have been infected by dengue. “The state vector disease control cell along with local clubs is spreading awareness about how to prevent the disease from spreading and taking individual care,” he added.
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is black and has white stripes, is the carrier of the dengue virus and only transmitted from the female Aedes. The dengue virus is not contracted from person to person but from the affected person through the mosquito bite only.The larvae incubate in clear water. The post-monsoon season is conducive for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to lay eggs in clear water. Eggs can be found in used disposable glasses, flower pots, discarded tyres, clear puddles, air-coolers and even in a spoonful of water. The eggs can lay dormant for over a year and can incubate once it comes in contact with water.