- Abhijit Nath, NET Correspondent, Tripura
Agartala, November 11, 2021 : Amid the unprecedented times of COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cases of dengue infections in two districts of Tripura during the first ten days of November this year have triggered a new health challenge.
The positivity rate of Dengue infections has been increased to 24.24%, which was registered at 7.86 per cent in August.
Dengue outbreak have registered a total of 255 cases during the last four months till November 10, across six districts of Tripura.
“A total number of 255 cases have been tested positive out of 1715 samples tested with vector-borne virus of Dengue from August to November 10”, said Disease Surveillance Officer Dr Deep Debbarma in a press conference here in Agartala on Wednesday.
“Among 255 cases, 46 samples were found through Elisa testing at State’s top referral AGMC and GBP hospital while the rest were confirmed through antigen test.” – the Disease Surveillance official further added.
Dr Deep also stated “In August, seven cases were reported, 20 cases in September, 58 cases in October and 161 cases in November. Among eight districts, 27 in Sepahijala district, 76 in Gomati district, one each in North and South Tripura district, and 57 in Unakoti district.”
Meanwhile, a central team of doctors from Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital visited the areas of Killa and Atharobola in Gomati district on Sunday to inspect the reason for sudden escalation of Dengue infections.
“The doctors in their preliminary assessment found that there is no scope of mosquito breeding in the patient’s houses. But they revealed that 95 percent of the patients are rubber tappers and when they visited that area, ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito have bitten them resulting breakbone fever or Dengue” – added Dr Deep.
Citing the number of cases from last four years, DSO said “In total, 127 patients were found in 2017, 100 cases in 2018, 109 cases in 2019, and 24 cases in 2020”.
All the cases are reported in ADC villages of Tripura and the affected patients falls between 15-40 years of age group.
On behalf of Health department, the Disease Surveillance official further urged the urban, rural and remote residents, across the state to put-on full sleeve garments, so that exposure to the mosquitoes remains minimum.
Besides, these areas have also been extensively fogged-up, in order to prevent any further infections.
“Near about 100 patients affected with Dengue having high fever and body ache are currently admitted in different hospitals across Tripura. Dengue has four strains. People are mostly affected with first strain. Rare cases are found with second strain where patient may bleed from certain areas” – asserted the DSO.
