448 cases of Dengue confirmed till date

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 20 : Altogether 448 cases of Dengue and 38 cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) have been detected in Manipur this year (till September 19) as per State Malaria Office.
The figure, however, doesn't incorporate those who were tested positive for Dengue at private laboratories or diagnostic centres as the State Malaria Office rely only on the reports submitted by RIMS and JNIMS in counting Dengue cases.
What is cause of worry is that over 83 per cent  of the total confirmed cases of Dengue were reported from Imphal West (259 cases) and Imphal East (117).
One person from Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai died of Dengue yesterday.
Even as the State Malaria Office said that they have done 539 fogging and 1253  source reduction exercises across the State to prevent Dengue, many people from leikais (localities) where there are Dengue outbreak expressed desire for the authorities to carry out the fogging and source detection exercises from house to house.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, State Malaria Officer of National Health Mission Dr S Priyokumar Meitei said that the Aedes mosquito which causes Dengue doesn't breed in drains, lakes, rivers or ponds.
Saying that Dengue mosquitoes breed in stagnant water within and around houses especially open water containers, tanks and objects which hold water, he added that Aedes eggs become adult mosquitoes in just seven-eight days.
He said that preventing mosquito bites and clearing stagnant water regularly are the only means to prevent Dengue infections.
Father stating that Dengue outbreak cannot be controlled only by carrying out fogging exercise as it will kill only the adult mosquitoes, Dr Priyokumar advised that people should not keep stagnant water at their respective  places and also close all water containers with effective lids.
The State Malaria Office only counts the Dengue positive cases submitted by RIMS and JNIMS authorities only, he said, adding that the department does not take into account the reports of Dengue coming from private laboratories.
Meanwhile, the State has so far reported 448 cases of Dengue  (one death from Imphal West) and 38 cases of JE (2 deaths) as per the State Malaria Office.
District wise, Imphal West reported 259 cases of Dengue and 8 cases of JE while  Imphal East reported 117 cases of Dengue and nine cases of JE this year (till September 19).
Other districts where Dengue and JE cases were reported are Bishnupur (21 Dengue cases and five JE cases), Chandel (four Dengue cases and 2 JE cases), Churachandpur (one JE case), Kangpokpi (five Dengue cases and three JE cases), Tamenglong (one Dengue case), Noney (two Dengue cases), Thoubal (27 Dengue cases and three JE cases), Kakching (eight Dengue cases and six JE cases), Ukhrul (three Dengue cases and one JE case) and Kamjong (one Dengue case).
Two persons died of JE from Imphal East and Thoubal this year.