'Dengue not yet endemic'

70 cases detected in Assam, no deaths so far

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Sept 17: Seventy cases of dengue have been reported in the State but Health officials say the outbreak cannot be termed as endemic. No deaths have been reported yet.

Of the 70 cases, 46 have been reported from Kamrup (metropolitan) district, followed by 12 in Dibrugarh. In Guwahati, majority of the cases were from the Christian Basti area.

"There are a few cases along the Aruchal border…but very few," said an official source.

Quite a few patients have already been released from hospital, while others are recuperating.

The Health department has identified some dengue hotspots in the city like Islampur, Christian Basti, Bonda, Ulubari, Senmela etc where measures like fogging and distribution of medicated mosquito nets have been initiated. "Centrally, the tiol Health Mission has also initiated an awareness drive through advertisements in newspapers and TV channels. Hygiene is the key to prevent the disease," said the official.

Though the State had recorded over 4,500 dengue cases in 2013, the prevalence declined in the last two years. In 2014, 86 positive cases were reported.

NHM officials here say the State requires a tiol Virology Centre for dengue tests. "We have to send the samples outside for tests. We feel the State needs a centre here, considering the prevalence of the disease," said a NHM official.