An alarming outbreak of dengue hit Diphu and surrounding areas, following a similar wave a few months ago that resulted in three fatalities and nearly 200 confirmed cases. The Assam Health Department officially confirmed the surging dengue outbreak in Diphu, the district headquarters of Karbi Anglong autonomous district.

Patients in Dengue Outbreak

Presently, twelve patients, including two children, are receiving treatment at Diphu Medical College Hospital, with two individuals in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the two infants in the pediatric ICU.

The Assam National Health Mission announced that essential technological procedures for dengue confirmation and case management have been carried out, ensuring that health officials in hospitals and medical colleges are fully prepared to handle the situation.

Dengue, commonly referred to as an “urban disease” and considered one of the deadliest infections after malaria, has been categorized as an extreme case. Consequently, a rapid response team has been dispatched to the affected areas by the central headquarters.

Samples Tested

So far, 301 samples have been tested in Diphu, with 192 of them returning positive for dengue. Out of the samples tested on Thursday, 60 were positive, accounting for more than half of the total. Since October 2, various neighborhoods in town reported cases exhibiting symptoms such as fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, and vomiting.

Diphu Medical College Hospital treated the majority of cases, with most of them testing positive for NS1 ELISA.

The district health team is coordinating closely with the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council authority, ensuring that all transferred cases are directed to the nearest health facility and receive appropriate care. Health camps are being organized in strategic locations, particularly in the hills, mobilizing ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Mahila Arogya Samity, and mobile medical units.

Control Activities

“Vector-control activities, including source reduction, thermal fogging, and distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, have been intensified in numerous localities across Diphu, aiming to combat the dengue outbreak.”