Assam: Unplanned Urbanisation Linked to Dengue Outbreak

GUWAHATI: Assam suffered a severe outbreak of dengue in its rural regions which left many dead. A study conducted by a team of microbiologists from the Gauhati Medical College Hospital mentioned the possibility that the outbreak may be linked to unplanned development in the state.

The study was conducted by Dina Raja about three years ago when she was a faculty of the Microbiology department of the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. The study revealed the possibility of dengue outbreaks in the state being caused by unmonitored urbanisation. The report of the study was entitled 'Seroprevalence of Dengue Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital' and it took into account the need for the identification of high-risk areas of the state to prevent outbreaks of dengue, followed by proper mitigation of the threat.

The threats highlighted in her report were realised this year when the district of Karbi Anglong was forced to shut schools following an outbreak of dengue. No steps were taken by the administration to identify areas of risk, let alone take any mitigation measures. Dina Raja is now the HOD of the same department in the Dhubri Medical College and Hospital.

Owing to improper drainage and lack of awareness, a huge majority of dengue incidents in the state in the past decade were reported from the city of Guwahati and its nearby areas. But the trend changed this year as Karbi Anglong surpassed every other district. And according to reports, 954 cases of this illness were detected in the state in this month alone, with Diphu town reporting the highest numbers.

A large number of people residing in the slums and peripheries of the urban and semi-urban regions of the state do not have proper sanitation facilities. Even inside the city of Guwahati, large regions do not have proper drainage or water supply, leading to water stagnation. Which in turn is the main reason for the rise of mosquito bourne illnesses.

Post-outbreak, the administration is taking steps to spread awareness among the people, as well as initiated cleaning and fogging in several urban and semi-urban areas of the state.

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