Due to an alarming increase in dengue cases, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) announced on Sunday that all schools and colleges in the Diphu Municipal Board and Greater Diphu Town area of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district will be closed for five days this month.
According to an order issued by the Principal Secretary of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, “In view of the alarming surge in dengue cases and as preventive measures against impending epidemic, therefore all educational institutions both government and private, etc. from non-formal pre-schools (Anganwadi) to colleges falling within Diphu Municipal Board and Greater Diphu Town area, shall remain closed on from November 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12.”
As many as three people died in Diphu during a Dengue outbreak, and more than 20 people are currently being treated at government hospitals in the hill district.
In response to an outbreak of reported dengue cases in some Assam districts, proactive measures have been implemented by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Health Minister Keshab Mahanta.
Dr MS Lakshmi Priya, Director National Health Mission, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) team visited the affected areas in Karbi Anglong to assess the situation and provide all necessary support to the district team in order to control the outbreak.
On Saturday late evening, MD NHM Assam chaired a review meeting of the Dengue situation in Diphu Town and Karbi Anglong District with the District Administration, Members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Diphu Medical College and Hospital, the District Health Team, and officials from other departmental heads in Diphu.
As a result, a two-pronged strategy was developed in this regard, one aimed at the community and the other at clinical management.
According to NHM, Assam, nine teams each led by an ACS officer and a doctor had moved to the town’s wards with the goal of monitoring 20,000 people for fever.
Along with ASHA, ANM, and Anganwadi Workers, MMU and RBSK teams are assigned. This morning, the MD of NHM Assam launched the drive, which was followed by a visit to DMCH with the State Team to review Dengue case management and preparedness.
During the Dengue Drive in Diphu’s wards, ten teams moved around the town. The team visited 1422 houses and completed 3568 source reduction sites in total.
The team discovered a total of 74 fever cases. Follow-up actions have been taken as needed.
During the day, the MD, NHM, Assam met with Surjya Rongphar, Executive Member, Health, KAAC, and discussed various issues concerning the Dengue situation in the district, in the presence of the Joint Secretary, Health, KAAC, the Joint Director of Health Services, medical officers, and the district team.
A review meeting on the dengue drive and the current situation, chaired by MD, NHM Assam, was also held with district officials to provide necessary instructions and to remain vigilant in order to further mitigate the situation.
It should also be noted that the SoP for case management at the periphery as well as at Diphu Medical College and Hospital has been streamlined.
Doctors from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Epidemiology teams from neighbouring districts have also been dispatched to Karbi Anglong to assist and manage the situation, including fogging machines and extra ICU beds if needed in the periphery, along with the necessary HR for any emergency.
The situation in Karbi Anglong is being closely monitored, and all precautionary measures are being taken to combat it.
It should be noted that Dengue treatment is provided free of charge in all government hospitals, medical colleges, and hospitals.
From November 1 to 5, the state recorded 285 dengue cases, including 271 in Karbi Anglong and eight in the Kamrup Metro district.