Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 13 (EMN): A total of 168 fresh cases of dengue were reported over the last month (September) at in District Hospital Dimapur (DHD), taking the number of people affected by the vector-borne disease to 62, according to Assistant Director of Urban Vector Borne Disease Scheme (UVBDS) Kikolul Khieya.
Of the 168 cases of dengue, 60 affected people were from Dimapur, while the rest were patients from other states. Vector-borne diseases are reported between mid-July and November-end. Cases of the vector-borne disease were reported much earlier this time, which experts have attributed to early arrival of the monsoon.
Dimapur district continues to have the highest case of dengue in the state while the remaining districts have zero record of dengue, informed Khieya. Emphasising on the authenticity of Elisa test – a test that detects and measures antibodies in the blood, the UVBDS assistant director stated “without Elisa test, dengue cannot be confirmed but only suspected”. Also, he said one test alone will not confirm dengue but a suspected dengue patient need to go through the Elisa test, which is available only at DHD.
A special machine with technician, a specialist and many other things are involved for the test which private hospitals cannot afford – unlike government hospitals which are funded, said Khieya.
He also pointed out that a dengue suspected patient should not panic but get ttested through Elisa test at DHD.
In Metro Hospital, a private hospital in Dimapur, 103 suspected cases of dengue were reported from August to October till date, out of which 44 tested positive.
Immunochromatographic test is fairly reliable to detect dengue but for further confirmation Elisa test is vital, acknowledged Metro Hospital Dimapur general and laparoscopic surgeon Dr Z Mozhui. On the non-availability of Elisa test in private hospitals, he said “we are not a specialised centre and with no funding like the government-run hospitals we cannot afford it”. However he mentioned that if required a patient is referred to DHD for the Elisa test.
Accounting last year’s dengue alarm among the people, Mozhui said the vector borne disease was fairly new which also got the attention of the doctors and prepared them to combat the disease. Therefore this year, the doctors are more organised to combat and control, and create awareness.
However he pointed out that this year there are more cases of dengue compared to the previous year while the hospital continues to receive about two to three cases daily.
