Darj admin no to ‘rapid kit’ dengue tests

Siliguri Municipal Corporation. (Photo: SNS)

SNS | Siliguri | March 24, 2018:  The administration has asked private nursing homes and pathological laboratories not to perform ‘rapid kit tests’ to detect dengue virus, as reports have earlier suggested that ‘positive’ results are sometimes not authentic and they create confusion.

“Only the (Mac) Elisa test method is authentic when it comes to detecting the dengue virus, and it is scientifically proven. But it has come to our notice that many private nursing homes and diagnostic centres conduct the rapid tests. The reports of such tests sometimes create panic. We have asked those facilities not to perform rapid tests and follow only the Elisa tests. We will take steps if we get complaints against them,” Darjeeling district magistrate Joyoshi Dasgupta said.

Ms Dasgupta held a review and sensitization meeting on the control of vector-borne diseases, including black fever (kala-azar) and chikungunya, here today.

Officials of the health department, Siliguri Sub Divisional Officer Shiraz Daneshyar, Block Development Officers, Sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad Tapas Sarkar, Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) CEO Deepap Priya P, Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) deputy mayor Ram Bhajan Mahato, SMC commissioner Sonam Wangdi Bhutia and councillors of the civic board attended the meeting.

Ms Dasgupta said there were no reports of people affected with dengue so far this year. Deputy chief medical officer of health, Dr Tulsi Pramanik, said that as per directives issued by the state government, reports of rapid blood tests or ‘card’ tests cannot be taken into consideration.

“Reports of such tests confirming dengue will not be accepted unless the Elisa tests confirm the virus presence,” Dr Pramanik said. Ms Dasgupta further said that fines would be slapped as per rules if people throw waste materials and garbage in public places.