By Daulat Rahman
The death of two persons because of dengue has put Dispur on high alert with the health department contemplating a study to locate possible breeding space in the state for the dengue-causing aedes aegypti mosquito.
This follows the death of Sanjib Bordoloi, 50, in Dibrugarh yesterday, who according to health department sources "had never been outside the state in at least three years". The death, said the sources, had confirmed fears that the mosquito was breeding locally.
Another person died in Guwahati last week. More than 50 people have so far been tested positive for dengue.
A health department official told The Telegraph the virus was contracted from a bite of the striped aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person.
He said though experts opined that the mosquito did not exist in malaria-endemic areas like Assam and most of the victims were infected by the virus outside, there was a need for a study considering the fact that some patients recently tested positive were living in the state.
“We will engage experts and renowned physicians to conduct the study. The disease might take a serious turn and infect large number of people if the health department does not act immediately. In case the study finds breeding spaces of the mosquito in the state, the strategy to tackle it will be different.”
Dr Sadiqul Islam, registrar of the medicine department, GMCH, who is closely associated with treatment of dengue patients, said a few patients recently admitted to GMCH had never been outside the state. He said there was an immediate need for an in-depth entomological study to find the mosquito breeding ground.
Islam said aedes aegypti mosquitoes thrive during the rainy season but could also breed in water-filled flowerpots, plastic bags and cans throughout the year. He said normal symptoms of the disease include chills, headaches, severe pain in the eyes, backache and bleeding gums.
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