DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 24 (MExN): The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, has issued mandatory guidelines for all private and public healthcare providers to strengthen testing and reporting procedures for Dengue and Malaria under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
In separate advisories, the department emphasized early detection, timely case management, and reducing transmission rates across the state. All suspected cases of Dengue detected through Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) must be confirmed using ELISA tests at designated district hospitals in Dimapur, Mokokchung, Wokha, Kiphire, Mon, and the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK). Positive cases must be reported to the respective Chief Medical Officer (CMO) weekly—and daily during transmission periods.
Healthcare providers are required to follow a clear definition of probable and confirmed Dengue cases. While RDTs offer only preliminary indications due to low sensitivity, a case can only be officially confirmed through ELISA tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, or viral isolation methods.
In a parallel advisory on Malaria, the department has mandated screening for all fever cases, particularly during the transmission season. Confirmed cases—detected via microscopy, antigen-based RDTs, or molecular diagnostics—must be reported immediately to the CMO, District Vector Borne Disease Officer, or State Programme Officer. The advisory underscores the urgency of maintaining vigilance as Nagaland progresses through the malaria elimination phase.
The government has invoked provisions under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making non-compliance with the mandatory reporting measures a punishable offense under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Principal Director Dr. E. Motsuthung Patton urged healthcare providers, NGOs, and civil society groups to cooperate in strengthening the state’s response to vector-borne diseases. “Early detection and prompt reporting are essential to reduce the disease burden and safeguard public health,” he stated.
