Imphal: Manipur’s Health Minister, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh, on Sunday urged all citizens to collaborate with health officials and workers as the state faces a sharp rise in dengue cases over the past two months.
Last week, a person succumbed to dengue in Imphal West district, where the number of infections, along with those in neighbouring Imphal East, has surged since August.
Health officials reported over 450 confirmed dengue cases in the state from January 2024 to the present. Imphal West recorded the highest number of cases at 265, followed by Imphal East with 120 cases.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Ranjan Singh revealed that while there were around 148 cases in August, the number had risen to 230 by mid-September.
The minister stressed the critical role of community involvement in combating the disease, pointing out that health workers alone cannot tackle the problem. He urged all households and communities to actively participate in eradicating dengue.
Dr. Ranjan Singh acknowledged the efforts of his department staff, who have been working tirelessly to trace and monitor cases. However, he expressed concern that in some areas, residents have been uncooperative, even preventing officials from inspecting mosquito breeding sites and, in some instances, verbally abusing them.
Earlier, the minister held a review meeting to address the crisis, which was attended by key officials including Health Director Oinam Sanahanbi, Mission Director Dr. M. Dinesh, the CMOs of Imphal West and East, the State Malaria Officer, and State Epidemiologists.
