Dengue fever which is usually a post monsoon disease is now endemic in Dimapur city. Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes which bites during day time is found in every nook and corner of Dimapur city. The ambient temperature range for its transmission is 16 degree C to 40 degree C indicating that we may still have a good number of days of temperature in this range to go. The mosquito rests indoors, in closets or in dark places etc feeds and lays eggs in and around the house.
With upsurge of dengue fever cases in and around Dimapur city, all available control measures have been put into place by the Medical Department including Fogging with Tech. Malathion 50percent, Larvicidal operation with temephos, Larvivarous fish distribution, IEC awareness campaign, Enhanced surveillance, Intense Entomological studies.
As per entomological findings, (house index and breteau index) the densities of Aedes Agypti remained high in all the studied areas indicating the need for source reduction i.e. draining all water logging areas once a week which requires public participation, for ensuring elimination of vectors, and thereby control the outbreak.
Awareness on Dengue
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bites of Aedes mosquito. It bites during the day time and a person develops the disease after 5 to 6 days of being bitten by an infective mosquito.Dengue occurs in two forms- Dengue fever (DF) and Dengue Haemorrhage Fever (DHF)
Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Fever
.....Sudden onset of fever
......Severe headache
......Pain behind the eyes which worsens with eye movement
......Muscle and joint pains.
......Loss of sense of taste and appetite
......Measles like rash over the chest and upper limbs
Age Group and Sex Affected
........All age groups and both sex are affected
........Deaths occur more in children
Transmission From One Person to Another
........Dengue fever is caused by the bite of Aedes mosquito
........When mosquito bites a person with Dengue fever it picks up the germs of the disease along with the blood.
........This germ known as dengue virus develops within the mosquito in a few days.
........When this mosquito bites a healthy person again, it introduces the germs into the blood.
........After few days, the person falls sick with high fever and other symptoms of dengue.
Breeding Places
Aedes mosquito breed in any type of man-made containers or water storage containers even having small quantity of water like desert coolers, tyres, overhead tanks,drums, jar, buckets, tin, roof gutters, refrigerator drip pans, cement blocks, cemetery urns, bamboo stumps,, tree holes and many more places where rain water collects or is stored.
Preventive and Control Measures
.....All water storage containers should be covered
......Remove/destroy all disposable, unused materials lying in and around the house like old tyres, broken pots, crockery etc.
......Dry all water storage containers, water coolers, flower cases, water vessels for birds and animals, fridge trays at least once a week before re-filling.
.......Fill up the ditches and other unwanted water collection sites around the houses.
......Put insecticides, petrol, kerosene oil in coolers, containers etc once a week which cannot be emptied or cleaned.
......Introduce Larvivorous fishes in stagnant water bodies.
.......Wear clothes that covers the whole body during day time
.......Use appropriate wire mesh in doors and windows of the house.
......Ensure that at least pregnant women and children sleep under mosquito net during day time preferably insecticide treated bed nets .
......Insecticide treated mosquito nets are more effective as they kill mosquitoes as well as other bugs and insects.
.......Use mosquito repellent lotion, creams like goodnight, Odomos etc.
If there is any suspected case which matches the signs and symptoms, contact the nearest Health unit of District Programme Officer (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme) of your respective district for collection and transportation of sample for testing. Facility for testing is available at District Hospital Dimapur.
