Assam hill town shuts educational institutions after over 300 dengue cases, three deaths

The health department has launched house-to-house surveillance and carried out tests on those suffering from fever in order to detect dengue

Over 300 dengue cases and three deaths in Diphu, the headquarters of Assam's hills district, Karbi Anglong, in six days has prompted the administration to shut all educational institutions in the town for five days as a preventive measure to contain the vector-borne virus.

The health department on Sunday launched a house-to-house surveillance drive to carry out tests of those suffering from fever to detect dengue cases, provide medical help and prevent the spread of the virus.

M S Lakshmipriya, director of National Health Mission, Assam, visited Diphu on Sunday to take stock of the situation. Following this, a directive was issued to shut all schools, Anganwadi centres, colleges and all other educational institutions till November 11.

"Main reason behind the spread of the virus is the dumping of garbage and storage of water. So, it has been decided to take up a community-level strategy in which people are encouraged to take up cleaning drives in and around their houses. Mosquitos breed in the water stored in uncovered buckets, coconut shells, discarded tyres etc. We are trying to reduce the source of mosquito breeding," she told reporters at Diphu.

Sources said that as the hill town is witnessing a water crisis due to the dry season, residents have started storing water, which could be one reason for breeding dengue mosquitos. Although the water crisis is a standard issue during the winter season every year, Karbi Anglong never witnessed as many dengue cases in the past.

High fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain are some common Dengue symptoms besides others.

The National Health Mission, Assam, said out of the total 369 dengue cases detected across the state since November 1, Karbi Anglong alone reported 344 cases.

Kamrup Metro (Guwahati), Nalbari, Sivasagar, Dima Hasao, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Kamrup, Nagaon, Hojai, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri are the other districts reporting dengue cases.