Guwahati: Assam has witnessed a significant increase in dengue cases, with more than 60 percent of the total 1,003 cases reported since the beginning of August.
From Jan 1 to Sept 23, Assam reported 1,003 dengue cases, compared to 5,959 cases during the same period last year.
Dima Hasao, a hill district, has recorded the highest number of cases at 360.
As per official data, this year Assam reported around 214 dengue cases in July, around 293 cases in August, and around 336 cases in September (till date).
As of Monday, Dima Hasao has the highest number of dengue cases among the state’s districts, with 360 cases, followed by Jorhat with 73 cases, Kamrup (Metro) with 67 cases, Hojai with 56 cases, and Karbi Anglong with 50 cases.
In Guwahati, the densely populated areas in the eastern zone, such as Zoo Road Tiniali, Bhaskar Nagar, and Geetanagar, have been severely affected. The east zone of the district has reported around 47 positive dengue cases so far, followed by the capital zone (11), south zone (8), west zone (3) and Sonapur block (3).
A senior health official said dengue cases have surged since July-August, especially in Dima Hasao and parts of Guwahati, as Japanese Encephalitis cases declined.
Notably, Karbi Anglong has witnessed a remarkable reduction from 6,000 cases last year to only 50 this year. According to health officials, herd immunity may be responsible for the significant decrease in dengue cases.
The Health Department has already sent a high-level team to Dima Hasao to assess the situation and to take the necessary measures to contain the outbreak.
The team identified stagnant water in the hilly terrain as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. “Stagnant water even in the hilly terrain, in bamboo trees, has been a factor behind mosquito breeding and thus measures have been initiated to destroy the sources,” the team stated.
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Fogging and deploying domestic breeding checkers have been part of Guwahati’s mosquito control efforts.
Although no dengue-related deaths have been reported this year, seven fatalities occurred last year.
