GUWAHATI: The recent data regarding the prevalence of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Dengue, and Malaria in Assam from January 1 to August 21, 2023, sheds light on the current state of disease outbreaks and the subsequent public health response.
The reported cases of JE, Dengue, and Malaria in Assam paint a concerning picture of the region's public health landscape. The recorded cases of JE, amounting to 432, have led to 24 deaths, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 5.6 per cent. For Dengue, there were 3508 cases with 4 deaths, yielding a CFR of 0.1 per cent. Malaria reported 281 cases with no deaths.
Further analysis reveals that certain districts bore the brunt of these diseases. On August 21, district-wise data indicated a substantial presence of JE, Dengue, and Malaria cases. Cachar, Dhubri, and Sivasagar reported 6, 2, and 3 cases of JE respectively. Additionally, Golaghat, Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, and Sonitpur collectively accounted for 32 cases of dengue.
The number of reported JE cases increased from 383 cases in the same period last year to 432 cases this year. The CFR for JE in 2022 was alarmingly high at 20.6 per cent, resulting in 79 deaths. Comparing this to the current year's CFR of 5.6 per cent, it is evident that while there has been a decrease in deaths, the absolute number of fatalities remains a concern.
