Dengue in Assam: Challenges ahead

By Dharmakanta Kumbhakar

Dengue fever (DF) and its severe forms ‘dengue hemorrhagic fever’ (DHF) and ‘dengue shock syndrome’ (DSS) have become major intertiol public health concerns. Over the past three decades there has been dramatic increase in dengue cases globally. Approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue-risk regions with about 100 million new cases each year worldwide. Dengue is endemic in India, with reported disease outbreaks in large metropolis cities. However, with increased urbanization and population movement, the disease is reportedly spreading to other metropolitan areas or cities that were hitherto free from disease.

Dengue is spreading rapidly and becoming established in Assam, owing to socioeconomic and developmental changes, with a dramatic increase in unplanned urbanization, population movement, lack of proper waste magement and idequate vector control measures. It has come to affect a large populace in the State for the past five years. In the state of Assam reported 237 confirmed cases of dengue and 02 deaths for the first time in 2010. Subsequently there was a significant increase in 2012 and 2013 with 1058 and 4526 cases recorded, 05 and 02 deaths respectively. But, it decreased in 2014 with 85 cases recorded. Of the total confirmed cases for each year in Assam, the majority (70–90%) were recorded in Guwahati. In 2013, 91% (4121/4526) of the total reported dengue cases were recorded in Guwahati alone. The cases were, however, unevenly distributed in different zones of Guwahati, with large concentrations in the East zone and Capital zone. Few confirmed cases have also been reported from other district towns (Dibrugarh, Tinisukia, Lakhimpur etc.) supported by serological evidence for circulating strains of dengue virus. Cases were reported mostly from those places where people harvest rain water and often leave tyres, drums and canisters out in the open. The actual disease burden is estimated to be much higher, with many cases undiagnosed and additiol cases reported in public/private sectors.

Dengue infection is caused by any one of four types of distinct but closely related viruses, mely, DV1, DV2, DV3 and DV4 of the genus Flavivirus that spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquito. DV causes self-resolving DF in the majority of cases, characterized by severe body ache, retro-orbital pain, headache and at times rash, abdomil pain and usea. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening DHF resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelet and blood plasma leakage or into DSS where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. The WHO 2009 classification divides dengue fever into two groups: uncomplicated and severe. Diagnosis of DV infection is routinely done by demonstration of anti DV IgM antibodies or by NS1 antigen in patients’ serum depending upon day of illness using ELISA kits. Molecular methods like RT-PCR and DV isolation in tissue culture cells and its sequencing is also being done. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluid and blood transfusion for more severe cases. In the absence of a vaccine, vector control is the primary means of controlling dengue infection.

In Assam, dengue cases are reported during the post monsoon period every year with a peak between mid September to November. During 2013, the rise in trend was seen early owing to an early monsoon. Initially restricted to urban areas, the occurrence of dengue infections has now spread to the semi urban and rural areas in Assam. The Kamrup (Metro) district and districts bordering Aruchal Pradesh are places mostly affected by dengue in Assam. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito which are the vectors of dengue are reportedly prevalent in Assam and widely abundant in urban areas like Guwahati and suburbs, breeding in a wide variety of containers like empty car batteries, drums and tyres where water can accumulate easily and are especially found in abundance in Guwahati. Open dumping of solid waste materials is common in the city and this helps in breeding of mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti is the most common species in Guwahati. The seasol prevalence of both mosquito species occurs from the onset of rains in April until December. The transmission patterns of dengue are influenced by temperature and precipitation. Temperature affects the egg viability, larval development, adult longevity and dispersal, whereas rainfall affects the abundance and productivity of the breeding habitats of Aedes mosquitoes. A temperature range of 18-33.2°C is considered to be ideal for the transmission of dengue fever. The favourable environment, high humidity (60–90%), warmer climates (22–33 degree C) for most of the year, excessive and prolonged rainfall in the state offer ideal conditions for proliferation of these mosquito vectors and the spread of disease.

With the increasing distribution range of Aedes aegypti and evidence of virus activity, it is projected that dengue will emerge as a major public health issue in Assam. There is a need of identification of high-risk areas, vector incrimition and seasol infectivity of dengue so that future outbreaks could be avoided by targeted interventions. Surveillance for probable detection of dengue infections, monitoring of vector activity and initiation of vector control measures should be ensured so as to prevent disease transmission in the high risk zones. The control of Aedes mosquitoes in Assam is very challenging and requires community involvement. Destroying the breeding grounds of mosquitoes through an intense public campaign, proper solid waste disposal, improved water storage practices including covering containers to prevent access to egg-laying female mosquitoes, supplying medicated mosquito nets in affected areas, protecting oneself from mosquito bites using long sleeve clothes and mosquito repellent, educating the people on the basics of health and hygiene are a simple yet very effective way of minimizing the impact of dengue in Assam.

Dengue is taking a turn this year in Assam with close to a hundred confirmed cases till now. Positive cases of dengue have been reported from Guwahati and different districts of the state. So far there has no confirmed dengue death in the state. Though it has not reached epidemic scale in Assam, but there is chance of more dengue cases this year as tiolly there is rise of disease so far. As per records, the GMC has identified 22 regions within Guwahati as Dengue hotspots. This needs urgent attention of the government authorities. The authorities should launch a publicity campaign through different media to keep the people well-informed, proper information should reach the people on the do’s and don’ts on dengue, improve its overall preparedness to meet any deterioration in the situation. Any laxity on the part of the authorities can easily lead to an epidemic-like situation in Assam especially in Guwahati.

(Mobile No. 9864517168,

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