GUWAHATI: Assam is facing a surge in dengue cases, with over 60% of the 1,003 cases reported since August 2024.
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The highest number of cases has been recorded at Dima Hasao (360), while Karbi Anglong has seen a marginal reduction, reporting only 50 cases this year compared to 6,000 last year. Health officials credit this sharp decline to possible herd immunity in the tribal district.
Meanwhile, densely populated zones of Greater Guwahati like Zoo Road Tiniali, Bhaskar Nagar and Geetanagar continue to face challenges with rising dengue infections. A senior health department official reportedly revealed that the increase in dengue cases coincided with a decrease in Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases. "As JE cases started declining, dengue surged in July and August. The situation is alarming, especially in Dima Hasao and parts of Guwahati," the official reportedly stated.
Between January 1 and September 23, the state has reported 1,003 dengue cases, a significant drop from the 5,959 cases recorded between the same period last year. However, the recent outbreak has left health officials concerned, as Guwahat’s municipal bodies are attempting to curb the spread of dengue. As recently as Tuesday, they have released schools of guppy fish into the city’s drains and rivulets to combat the reproduction of mosquito larvae.
As for Dima Hasao, health teams continue to visit the hill district to identify and isolate stagnant water in the hilly terrain, which is a primary breeding ground for mosquitoes.