Imphal : Health authorities in Manipur have raised fresh concerns over the rapid spread of dengue into previously unaffected areas, linking the surge to changing weather patterns marked by erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. Joint Director (Planning) of the Health Services Directorate, Dr. Y. Premchandra Singh, said on Tuesday that the state is now witnessing “clear and measurable health impacts” of climate change.

He was speaking at an interaction programme for media fellows reporting on climate issues, organised by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change. Addressing journalists, Dr. Premchandra outlined how Manipur’s climate vulnerabilities are increasingly manifesting in the public health sector.

According to him, extreme rainfall events, warmer months, flooding, humidity spikes, and climate-induced anxiety are emerging as key stress factors that amplify disease risks. While climate change does not directly create illness, he said it “creates pathways that worsen health risks,” particularly by enabling mosquito-borne diseases to flourish.

High humidity and stagnant water have fuelled ideal conditions for Aedes mosquitoes, allowing dengue transmission to continue even at the tail end of November – a period when cases usually subside.

Beyond dengue, Dr. Premchandra highlighted a spectrum of health challenges tied to changing climate patterns. Heatwaves, he said, are already driving up incidents of heat stroke, dehydration, and cardiac strain.

Flooding, meanwhile, is contaminating water sources and accelerating waterborne infections. Air pollution spikes are worsening asthma and COPD cases, while unpredictable weather is increasing the risk of food and water insecurity.

The official also underscored the particular vulnerability of diabetic patients, calling them “highly climate-sensitive.” He explained that high temperatures raise dehydration levels and blood glucose, while disasters disrupt refrigeration required for insulin storage.

Floods, heatwaves and power outages frequently cut off access to medicines and routine monitoring, placing diabetic individuals at heightened risk.

With climate stresses becoming unavoidable, Dr. Premchandra appealed for both public participation and institutional preparedness. He said the Health Department is prepared to take up mitigation and adaptation measures wherever possible to shield communities from worsening health impacts.

Echoing similar concerns, Director of Environment and Climate Change T. Brajakumar described climate change as one of the most significant threats to human health in the century.

Its impact, he said, is both direct – through heatwaves, extreme weather and floods – and indirect, through air pollution, shifting disease patterns, unsafe water, food shortages, inadequate shelter and rising psychological stress.

Brajakumar stressed the urgency of developing an indicator-based vulnerability index for Manipur’s health sector, using the IPCC’s risk assessment framework. Such an index, he said, would help identify district-wise hotspots and guide targeted health interventions.

The ongoing workshop also aims to strengthen the capacity of media fellows to report effectively on the growing intersections between health and climate change.

The programme drew participation from senior editors and veteran journalists from across the state, reflecting the growing recognition that climate-linked health issues are emerging as a major public concern in Manipur.

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