With positive dengue cases on the rise, Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan on Sunday appealed to the people for community participation in combating the disease. The minister stated that the health department recorded approximately 230 positive dengue cases this month until September 20, with the likelihood of an increase. One confirmed death due to the disease in the Imphal West district. In August, the total number of positive dengue cases in the state was 148. Ranjan said the department alone cannot fight dengue, a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people, without public participation at every level. “Despite the efforts of the department to fight dengue, there has been a rise in the number of positive cases and one fatal case. We want to appeal to the people to join in the fight,” he said. According to official data provided by the health department, the number of positive dengue cases recorded in the state from January 1 to September 19 stood at 448. In Imphal West, the number of positive cases was 259, and in Imphal East district, it was 117. “We are doing our best. Fogging is done where required after analysing the date of positive cases. In the process, the officials sometimes encountered lots of challenges, including abuse from the area concerned. To wipe out the disease, the public needs to cooperate with the department,” said the minister.
