Shillong, Oct 13: One person died of dengue in West Garo Hills.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters on Friday that out of the 44 postive cases, one death was reported in West Garo Hills
The male patient was brought with brain hemorrhage to the hospital resulting in his death, she added.
The health minister alerted the health officials in all the districts.
“The dengue cases that have been indicated in the entire state of Meghalaya are predominantly present in the plaint belt of the Garo Hills region as of today,” Lyngdoh said.
She said 44 cases were detected after 139 fever cases were tested from October 3 till October 12.
“On Thursday, 7 persons were tested of which only two positive cases were indicated. We also lost one soul due to brain haemorrhage caused by dengue,” Lyngdoh added.
To a question, the minister said the deceased was symptomatic as he was suffering from very high fever.
The health department is taking steps to contain dengue.
“We are able to contain as whoever contacted dengue has been given the correct protocol treatment as required”, she added.
“We are taking necessary steps in fact we are engaging actively with municipal board and with block development officers to ensure necessary combat is immediately rolled out.
We are procuring some more kits as districts are indicating requirements of additional kits. Therefore, department is already on the job.”
Urging the public not to panic, the minister said, “Do not be unnecessarily alarmed but as citizens we must remember that we must take necessary precautions. SOPs have already been indicated in the common dengue areas and the only thing is if you have a prolonged fever for many days kindly go to the nearest facility it could be a PHC, CHC, sub-divisional hospital or it could be a tertiary care centre like civil hospital in various parts of the state.”
She said the department does not anticipate that cases will grow and said, “We are already alerting all districts on the SOPs to be followed including communities, dorbars and municipal boards, BDO officials, medical block officials to immediately swing into action where cases have been indicated.”
According to her, the recommended protocol of treatment is already followed and “it seems that cases have reduced as of yesterday”.
