NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Nov 2 � The situation after the outbreak of the deadly disease dengue in North Lakhimpur has turned grim following the rise in the number of victims affected by it. According to district health department sources here, the number of victims tested positive in blood test for dengue had increased to 19 on Thursday. However, the number of patients admitted to various private nursing homes and hospitals stands at 53.
After the death of one Rubul Borah (25) on October 27, another person, Ratul Hussain (41) of Bantow under Ward No 14 in North Lakhimpur town died of suspected dengue on October 29. Significantly, the entire Ward No. 14 area of Khelmati and Bantow region of North Lakhimpur town has reported the maximum of dengue cases. The dengue victims who are referred to Guwahati for treatment from the Ward No. 14 area are Lily Gogoi (60), Sunil Patowari (36) and Prabin Bhuyan (58).
One Akramul Islam (33) of Bantow and the Executive Engineer, PWD-Buildings, Alok Ranjan Borah have also been diagnosed with Dengue. In other parts of Lakhimpur district, mostly on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas of Laluk, Harmutty and Banderdewa, dozens of people are reported to have been affected by dengue and most of them have left for better treatment in Guwahati and Kolkata. The disease is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes and Ades aegypti and so far the authorities have initiated various preventive measures to tackle it.
According to Joint Director of Health (in-charge), Lakhimpur, Dr Ganesh Saikia, the health department has been fogging various localities like Bantow, Hatilung and Maidomia with Melathyian spray to kill mosquitoes and has taken up sensitisation programmes by mobile mike services, distribution of leaflets and messages in the local cable TV channels.
