Team to test dengue outbreak in Moreh

Imphal, July 7: The state medical directorate today rushed a team to Moreh in Chandel district following reports of outbreak of fever with dengue-like symptoms.

The border town of Manipur has a record of outbreak of dengue. The outbreak was confirmed by Imphal’s Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in November 2007 after blood samples collected from an eight-year-old girl, M. Vidya, tested positive for dengue at the Mumbai-based SRL Ranbaxy Lab.

Vidya was saved but her elder sister, Puni, 10, who was also brought to the hospital, died of suspected dengue.

The state health department announced total control of dengue outbreak in Moreh within eight days of confirmation of the outbreak.

The medical team headed by Th. Bhubanchandra, additional director (public health), left Imphal for Moreh this morning to investigate a possible outbreak of dengue.

Medical personnel posted at the border town reported that by June 19 a large number of people with fever and nearly 200 patients with dengue-like symptoms, were admitted to the government hospital in the town.

“We could not say whether dengue has returned in Moreh. We will carry out investigations and confirm only after testing blood samples,” Bhubanchandra said before leaving for Moreh.

The medical team, which will stay in Moreh for a few days, will collect blood samples of patients and try to conduct tests to find out if any of the mosquito species carrying dengue virus are present in the town.

After the team collects the samples, the state health department will send them to the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry, for confirmation of dengue and other diseases.

An expert team on malaria is already carrying out investigations in Moreh. Reports said some patients have tested positive.

Moreh, the border town between India and Myanmar, has a large number of floating population, mostly on business trips. Health experts suspect that the source of dengue that broke out in 2007 was the South Asian countries.

Protest

An organisation of Manipuri elders, the Evening Glory Prayer Team, today staged a sit-in at Langol Tarung in Imphal West and demanded a review of the Delhi High Court ruling that gay sex among consenting adults was not a crime.

“Gay sex is against nature and this is not allowed by any religion. The court ruling should be reviewed,” said Rev. Ramkhul Pamei, spokesman for the group and a former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention.

The team has 60 members from different parts of the state and its members are above 60 years of age. They hold daily prayers for world peace at the centre at Langol Tarung from 7am to 9am.

Two killed: Two persons identified as Kopani Rabha, 52, and Panchu Rabha, 45, were killed by unknown criminals at Nalanga Pahartoli under Baguwan police station of Goalpara district on Tuesday night, reports our correspondent.