AGARTALA, August 4 (TIWN): The state developed serious problems as condition of malaria, dengue and Japanese Encephalitis escalated across the state. Mishtu Das of Jamjuri area in Udaipur was reported to have been administered blood after her condition deteriorated following a trip to Chennai for medical purposes earlier this year. She was later diagnosed to have contacted dengue. Two more persons- Ajit Das and Misthu's daughter Parmita Das were also diagnosed with the disease.

The trio was earlier rumoured to have been infected by Japanese Encephalitis.Tripura state malaria project officer Dr. Bidhu Bhusan Das said this evening that no new Japanese Encephalitis infection report came since the first four persons were reported to have been afflicted by the disease at Dhalai district. The state malaria project officer today said that he recently wrote to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme for sanction of at least three NS 1 - dengue testing kits. Each NS 1 kit is capable of testing at least 96 patients, he said.

The request was made several times before since the initial outbreak of malaria as an additional precautionary measure against dengue. The central government didn’t show any positive response on the issue yet. The Department of Health and Family Welfare is currently having sufficient Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) kits for diagnosing malaria, Dr. Das said. He added that the department is having a good number of Japanese Encephalitis testing kits as well.

However, tests can be run on patients under the current infrastructure for confirmation of Japanese Encephalitis at the lone state surveillance hospital – Gobinda Ballabh Pant Hospital. The Agartala Government Medical College is now operating a full-fledged ‘mac aliza’ test since 2013. The test is mandatory to diagnose Japanese encephalitis infection. The National Institute of Virology sent few rapid test kits on Tuesday to accelerate the testing process as well.

An official communiqué from the state health department said later this evening that Rameshjoy Reang (5), son of Isramrai Reang from Manikrai Para of Kulai forest reserve under Dhalai district died while undergoing treatment at Dhalai district hospital. He was diagnosed to have contacted malaria during his treatment at the hospital.

Out of 3,009 fever patients who underwent blood tests in different hospitals and healthcare centres across the state today, 413 were diagnosed to have freshly contacted malaria. The final figures of malaria infected people across the state since the initial outbreak of the disease today crossed 44 thousand 109.