Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Sep. 22 (EMN): Inter-sectoral convergence meeting on Dengue, organised by the Office of the District Vector Borne Officer, Dimapur, was held in the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall with the participation of doctors from both the government and private sectors to discuss on issues pertaining to vector borne diseases.
Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare Department and State Programme Officer (SPO) of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, presenting an overview on Dengue and Malaria in the State, pointed out that there are three vector borne diseases found in Nagaland namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Dengue.
Medikhru disclosed that Dimapur has reported 75 cases of malaria in 2017 contributing to 27.98%, while cases of Dengue was reported at 93.8%.
Medikhru has suggested suitable laws and bye-laws through legislation in regulating storage/utilisation of water by communities, various agencies and avoidance of mosquito genic conditions at construction sites, and factories.
He also viewed that a model civic byelaws was needed so that fine and punishment is imposed if breeding is detected. These measures, he said, are being strictly enforced by Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi Municipal Corporations.
Sentinel Surveillance Site Lab, District Hospital Dimapur in-charge Dr. T Temsu updated that the numbers of JE tested positive in 2017 (April to September) was 10 and dengue tested positive in 2017 (May to September) was 24.
Medical Officer (MO), DHD, Dr. Ngopelo, addressing on clinical management, informed that monotherapy of oral artemisinin derivatives is banned in India. In this line, he noted that artemisinin derivatives are the only rapidly acting anti-malarials as of date adding if used alone could lead to the development of artemisinin resistance.
He has cautioned against administering monotherapy for uncomplicated malaria except for specific studies on artemisinin resistance after consultation with NVBDCP and National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) or as injectables for severe malaria. Injectable artemisinin derivatives should be used only in severe malaria, remarked the MO.
