The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, has issued a directive for all healthcare providers, both public and private, to strictly adhere to newly mandated reporting protocols for Dengue cases.
Under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), healthcare providers are required to report suspected Dengue cases to the Chief Medical Officer of their respective districts on a weekly basis, and daily during periods of heightened transmission. The government has underscored the importance of timely reporting as part of a coordinated response to reduce Dengue transmission and facilitate early diagnosis.
As part of the directive, the government has clarified the testing process for Dengue diagnosis. A Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) positive result can indicate a probable case, but it is not definitive. All RDT-positive cases must be confirmed through ELISA testing, which will be carried out at designated district hospitals in Dimapur, Mokokchung, Wokha, Kiphire, Mon, and NHAK.
The government stresses that only cases confirmed through ELISA testing—which can detect Dengue virus antigen, demonstrate IgM antibody levels, or confirm viral nucleic acid via PCR—will be classified as confirmed Dengue cases. Additionally, the use of IgG seroconversion in paired serum samples can also confirm the diagnosis, provided there is a fourfold increase in the IgG titre.
Healthcare providers, including those in government institutions, private clinics, and NGO-run facilities, are mandated to send blood samples from suspected Dengue patients to Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSH) for ELISA-based testing. Furthermore, healthcare institutions are required to immediately notify the District Health Authority and the Chief Medical Officer once a Dengue case is confirmed, allowing for proper epidemiological assessment and intervention.
This new mandate underscores the government’s commitment to public health safety by ensuring early diagnosis, effective case management, and reduced transmission of Dengue in Nagaland.