211 dengue cases in Aruchal

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, July 17: The health authority in Aruchal Pradesh has issued a high alert following reported death of a minor girl due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

The child who hails from Dollongmukh in Lower Subansiri district died of JE on July 15 last at Aruchal State Hospital, harlagun, health department officials informed today.

So far six JE cases have been detected including one from Daporijo in Upper Subansiri district, two from Dollongmukh, one from Tengabari near Balijan in Papum Pare district and two from Yupia, State Epidemiologist Dr L Jampa informed.

He further informed that a total of 211 positive cases of Dengue were also reported from Pasighat in East Siang district.

The cases of Dengue were confirmed after compilation of reports from the district priority laboratory (DPL) under Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) at General Hospital Pasighat which began since the first week of June this year, Dr Jampa informed adding there was no report of any Dengue death in the district so far.

The first case of Dengue was detected on June 4 last, he informed and added that he alongwith Joint Director of Health Services Dr A Yirang would visit Pasighat on July 20 next to convene a meeting with the deputy commissioner of the district.

The detection by the laboratory testing for NS1 antigen and IgM by ELISA was from a total of 864 blood samples from suspect cases reported in the Pasighat General Hospital, he said.

“The tests were being done on a daily basis since the area is experiencing on an average 50-70 cases of fever on a daily basis in the hospital to the extent that all the beds are occupied to accommodate such fever cases. The situation is being closely monitored by the department at state and district level,” he added.

Various activities like public awareness, vector control of mosquitoes by fogging operations with insecticide “Malathione” were being carried out in the township areas by involving the district administrations and the Municipal Council, Dr Jampa informed.