Guwahati, Oct. 18: New dengue cases have been reported from localities in the city where they had not been detected before despite health officials claiming that the disease was on the wane.
So far 2,427 people in the city have tested positive to dengue. The disease has claimed three lives in the state, two in the city and one in Dhubri. The total number of dengue cases in the state is over 3,000. Kamrup (metro) continues to be the worst affected district in the state.
"New cases of dengue are being reported from localities where no outbreak of the disease had been previously reported. However, incidence of the disease in the affected areas of the city has declined considerably," said G. Saikia, joint director of the Kamrup (metro) district health service.
Chandmari, Bamunimaidan, Zoo Road and Geetanagar are the areas from where most new cases were reported this month.
"We are watching the areas from where new dengue cases are being reported and have started conducting health camps there. Our health workers collect the samples of people suffering from dengue-like symptoms and send them for the confirmatory tests to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Sensitisation camps are continuing in the city. These newly affected localities are being fogged," said Saikia.
Health officials said the public is not taking adequate precautions to prevent the disease.
"The dengue transmitting A. Aegypti mosquito breeds in clean water and we have been asking people not to store water in utensils without covering it. But people still do so. Those with air coolers should routinely change the water. People will have to be particular about taking precautions to avoid the disease," Saikia said.