Already with the infamous tag of a ‘malaria-endemic’ State, a more stinging fact is that only in a decade’s time Odisha has curiously raced hard to become the dengue hub in its neighborhood (Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh). Odisha, moreover, last year figured as a dengue hub with more cases than the BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) States after Rajasthan.
Sample this: Odisha had reported a mere one dengue case in 2006. But by years 2013 and 2014, cases grew geometrically to touch respectively over 7,000 and 6,000, and the State became number one dengue-endemic State among the BIMARU States. Odisha was also number one dengue-infected cases in its neighbourhood, including Andhra Pradesh, till 2015. Even, in dengue deaths Odisha was also third among the BIMARU States.
The enormity was somewhat eased in 2015 courtesy an unprecedented drought, whereby Odisha slipped to third State after Rajasthan and UP among the BIMARU States. In 2016, Odisha again is in a close race with Madhya Pradesh for the dubious number one dengue State among the BIMARU.
Significantly, Odisha’s dubious rise in the dengue map is traced to spread of the disease to all the 30 districts over the years. And, importantly, winging of the disease by an Aedes mosquito species named Ae. albopictus is prevalent in the State, which breeds mainly in natural larval habitats thanks to poor civic reasons. Unlike aegypti, which grows in manmade habitats, a prudent action plan against albopictus in all districts could bring the dengue menace in Odisha to a minimum because it is within the administration’s reach vis-à-vis that of persuading individual households to counter aegypti-led dengue.
Why the evolving dengue enormity in Odisha over the years look dangerous is the absence of any anti-viral drug, unlike anti-malaria drug, for dengue infection and its spread to some rural areas. In this backdrop, the role of the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees and their urban counterparts prove providential as monitoring at their levels in mosquito control could make the locality dengue-free. And the State Government needs to encourage by setting a target of making high-risk dengue districts, a dengue-free zone in a timeframe.
Why the disease spreads like a wildfire after first reporting in OdishaIJ
According to health experts in the NVBDCP (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme), late spraying (fogging) of insecticide to kill adult mosquito population in order to prevent spreading of the epidemic is the main reason. “late fogging is proving ineffective as adult mosquitoes are seen returning quickly after spraying,” reasoned a NVBDCP official. Moreover, problems in controlling larval population is proving challenging owing to no regular civic maintenance as its larvae are found to be remaining for more than a year in dry condition, and upon setting in of rains saw triggering them again to grow to an adult, he cautioned.
The Chief Minister during his yearend review in May needs to take stock of the achievement in dengue/malaria control than on aspects like medical colleges or Niramaya, observe health watchers.