Dengue, monsoon and the summer days !
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James Khangenbam
The Aedes aegypti mosquito appears to outsmart the human. This is one reason why I determined to write the article. According to World Health Organisation Dengue is a viral infection caused by the Dengue virus – DENV. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito breeds in clean water and bites only during day time. Last year, it ravaged Imphal West and Imphal East district. By the time, I am writing this article, the countdown has already begun for a probable Dengue outbreak. As winter set in, the mosquito breeding season lapsed and fear slipped away from people’s mind. An infected mosquito can pass on the virus to its offsprings via the eggs. It is termed as vertical transmission. Thus, the infected mosquito is surviving through its egg. More specifically the egg of Aedes Aegypti can survive in dry state for more than a year and when it submerges in water it hatches. Horizontally it spreads as an uninfected female Aedes aegypti bites an infected human and ultimately became a carrier of the virus.
During the previous Dengue outbreak, health authorities announced precautionary measures in public broadcast. And the targets were clear. However, the mosquito continues to hurt 3703 individuals in Imphal West, 1205 in Imphal East, 148 in Bishnupur and 127 in Thoubal last year. The record may be more as the data is exclusive of private laboratories. The health authorities expected a lot from the public in halting Dengue outbreak, so does the public and vice versa. Perhaps the dilemma arises from a missing gap. Global health organisations also support the fact that Dengue is prevalent in unplanned cities.
WHO at their official website writes that Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climate worldwide. And is prevalent mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Subtropical climate experiences hot summer, mild winter and varied rainfall (humid or dry). Geographically, Manipur lies in the sub-tropical climate zone. Over the last couple of year, the rise in demand of air conditioner in Manipur indicates a change in climate. Perhaps the rise in temperature makes it more favou- rable for Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes to breed abundantly.
History of Dengue in Manipur
In 2007, the first ever Dengue case was reported at Moreh town. Years later, Dengue appeared in Imphal East and Churachandpur but subsided quickly. Dengue became a real public health issue starting 2023 with 2,548 cases and 2,463 cases in 2024. Dengue infection crossed the 5,500 marks in 2025. Five to six days of hospitalisation in a private hospital for an individual with Dengue comes to an average bill of rupees fifty thousand. Besides expenses on mosquito repellents, ointment etc during the outbreak for every household are a significant amount. Health and economy are the most treasured assets of every individual. To protect both needs a commitment and collective efforts from all stakeholders.
Dengue Pain
Dengue ailment is often termed as bone break fever. The pain and exhaustion are a haunting experience recalls many. Health officials usually advice an infected person to monitor blood platelet counts. Blood platelets are tiny, colourless cell fragments in blood. It is made in the bone marrow and is crucial for stopping bleeding by clumping together to form clots. It acts as human body’s natural bandages. When platelet counts deplete to a certain level, bleeding takes place. If platelets are not replenished through platelet injections, an individual would succumb to Dengue. There must be other health complicacies of a severe Dengue which health practitioners would know best.
During 2025 Dengue outbreak, JNIMS hospital opened a separate Dengue ward to meet the ever-increasing hospitalisation cases. Similar situation prevailed at the casualty ward of RIMS hospital where several patients were treated. Hospitalisations were also at its peak at the private hospitals in Imphal. Many individuals recovered from the ailment. Many precious lives were saved by medical intervention. Yet fear lurks in everyone’s mind if the haunting Dengue days will ever walk again in the neighbourhood.
Drawbacks in Dengue test protocols in India
As per Government regulations, Dengue positive test results from private labs which does not use ELISA method are taken as probable Dengue cases. In Manipur, doctors in private laboratories use methods like Immunochroma-tography to detect Dengue infection. It identifies viral proteins (NS1) or the body’s immune response (IgM/IgG) to provide early diagnosis.
National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, New Delhi lays down rules for detection of Dengue. It is done using ELISA based NS1 antigen tests and IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA). In Manipur, VRDL labs at RIMS and JNIMS are the only approved Dengue testing centres. During the 2025 Dengue outbreak in Manipur, various Government health centres including Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) and Urban Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs (UAAMs), act as sample collection points for Dengue testing. While collecting samples, the day of onset of fever and day of sample collection are usually taken, which helps the laboratory decide the type of test to be performed. NS1 test is done for samples collected from day 1 to 5 and IgM after day 5.
(To be contd)
The Aedes aegypti mosquito appears to outsmart the human. This is one reason why I determined to write the article. According to World Health Organisation Dengue is a viral infection caused by the Dengue virus – DENV. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito breeds in clean water and bites only during day time. Last year, it ravaged Imphal West and Imphal East district. By the time, I am writing this article, the countdown has already begun for a probable Dengue outbreak. As winter set in, the mosquito breeding season lapsed and fear slipped away from people’s mind. An infected mosquito can pass on the virus to its offsprings via the eggs. It is termed as vertical transmission. Thus, the infected mosquito is surviving through its egg. More specifically the egg of Aedes Aegypti can survive in dry state for more than a year and when it submerges in water it hatches. Horizontally it spreads as an uninfected female Aedes aegypti bites an infected human and ultimately became a carrier of the virus.
During the previous Dengue outbreak, health authorities announced precautionary measures in public broadcast. And the targets were clear. However, the mosquito continues to hurt 3703 individuals in Imphal West, 1205 in Imphal East, 148 in Bishnupur and 127 in Thoubal last year. The record may be more as the data is exclusive of private laboratories. The health authorities expected a lot from the public in halting Dengue outbreak, so does the public and vice versa. Perhaps the dilemma arises from a missing gap. Global health organisations also support the fact that Dengue is prevalent in unplanned cities.
WHO at their official website writes that Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climate worldwide. And is prevalent mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Subtropical climate experiences hot summer, mild winter and varied rainfall (humid or dry). Geographically, Manipur lies in the sub-tropical climate zone. Over the last couple of year, the rise in demand of air conditioner in Manipur indicates a change in climate. Perhaps the rise in temperature makes it more favou- rable for Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes to breed abundantly.
History of Dengue in Manipur
In 2007, the first ever Dengue case was reported at Moreh town. Years later, Dengue appeared in Imphal East and Churachandpur but subsided quickly. Dengue became a real public health issue starting 2023 with 2,548 cases and 2,463 cases in 2024. Dengue infection crossed the 5,500 marks in 2025. Five to six days of hospitalisation in a private hospital for an individual with Dengue comes to an average bill of rupees fifty thousand. Besides expenses on mosquito repellents, ointment etc during the outbreak for every household are a significant amount. Health and economy are the most treasured assets of every individual. To protect both needs a commitment and collective efforts from all stakeholders.
Dengue Pain
Dengue ailment is often termed as bone break fever. The pain and exhaustion are a haunting experience recalls many. Health officials usually advice an infected person to monitor blood platelet counts. Blood platelets are tiny, colourless cell fragments in blood. It is made in the bone marrow and is crucial for stopping bleeding by clumping together to form clots. It acts as human body’s natural bandages. When platelet counts deplete to a certain level, bleeding takes place. If platelets are not replenished through platelet injections, an individual would succumb to Dengue. There must be other health complicacies of a severe Dengue which health practitioners would know best.
During 2025 Dengue outbreak, JNIMS hospital opened a separate Dengue ward to meet the ever-increasing hospitalisation cases. Similar situation prevailed at the casualty ward of RIMS hospital where several patients were treated. Hospitalisations were also at its peak at the private hospitals in Imphal. Many individuals recovered from the ailment. Many precious lives were saved by medical intervention. Yet fear lurks in everyone’s mind if the haunting Dengue days will ever walk again in the neighbourhood.
Drawbacks in Dengue test protocols in India
As per Government regulations, Dengue positive test results from private labs which does not use ELISA method are taken as probable Dengue cases. In Manipur, doctors in private laboratories use methods like Immunochroma-tography to detect Dengue infection. It identifies viral proteins (NS1) or the body’s immune response (IgM/IgG) to provide early diagnosis.
National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, New Delhi lays down rules for detection of Dengue. It is done using ELISA based NS1 antigen tests and IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA). In Manipur, VRDL labs at RIMS and JNIMS are the only approved Dengue testing centres. During the 2025 Dengue outbreak in Manipur, various Government health centres including Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) and Urban Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs (UAAMs), act as sample collection points for Dengue testing. While collecting samples, the day of onset of fever and day of sample collection are usually taken, which helps the laboratory decide the type of test to be performed. NS1 test is done for samples collected from day 1 to 5 and IgM after day 5.
(To be contd)