Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati: Assam and the Northeast have reported over 1,200 dengue cases and eight deaths. The National Health Mission Authority said in a statement in Guwahati today that eight people have died within two days in Assam and the Northeast. Assam has the highest number of cases and 9 deaths in the hill district of Karbi Anglong, Manipur has the highest number of cases and deaths in 13 of the state’s 16 districts. According to the state health department, 602 cases of dengue have been detected in Manipur so far, the highest after 359 cases recorded.
This year, the disease has claimed 5 lives in the state and more than 652 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals. Dr A R Chishti, malaria officer of the state health department, said, “These cases were reported in 12 districts after detection in early June this year. A total of 369 dengue cases have been reported in Assam since the beginning of October. Karbi Anglong reported the highest number of cases at 344 and 4 deaths, with most of the cases found in the district headquarters of Diphu.
This was followed by 11 cases in Kamrup Metropolitan district, two each in Nalbari, Sibsagar, Dima Hasao and one each in Darrang, Dibrugarh, Kamrup Rural, Nagaon, Hojai, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts. Officials said the first few cases were detected in the first week of October and continued to rise in the following weeks. While new cases are still being reported, doctors believe they may come down in the next one-two weeks as the rains stop. Health officials said measures such as reduction in sources of mosquito breeding, awareness campaigns and fogging have been taken to reduce the number of cases, especially in the areas of Diphu. All government and private schools and colleges under The Diphu Municipal Board and Greater Diphu Town area will remain closed, the order by the Principal Secretary of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said.