Dibrugarh prepares to prevent JE & dengue

Dibrugarh: With the monsoon season just weeks away and the threat of vector-borne diseases looming large, health authorities in Dibrugarh district organised a series of community awareness and bednet treatment camps across dozens of villages, tea garden colonies and urban wards on Friday, focusing primarily on Japanese Encephalitis, dengue and malaria.Japanese Encephalitis, a mosquito-borne viral infection that predominantly affects children and young adults, is one of the most feared seasonal diseases in Assam. The illness, which causes inflammation of the brain can lead to severe neurological complications, permanent disability, and in many cases, death. The disease typically sees a sharp rise in incidence during and after the monsoon months, when waterlogging and stagnant water create ideal breeding conditions for the Culex mosquito, the primary vector responsible for transmitting the virus.

With the monsoon expected to arrive in Assam shortly, health officials have flagged the coming weeks as a critical window for preventive action.A key component of Friday’s drive was the medicating of mosquito nets, converting ordinary nets into Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets, commonly known as LLINs. These nets are treated with a safe insecticide, deltamethrin, which repels and kills mosquitoes upon contact rather than merely acting as a physical barrier.

Unlike daily chemical sprays or mosquito coils, LLINs offer sustained protection throughout the night without requiring repeated application, making them particularly suitable for households in rural villages and tea garden lines where access to other preventive measures may be limited.

Health workers medicated the nets brought by residents at the camps, effectively upgrading them into active tools against the spread of Japanese Encephalitis, malaria and dengue.The awareness camps on Friday were held across a wide range of localities in Dibrugarh district covering Borpather Gaon, Naharani Sonowal Gaon, Jayanta Dutta Path in Ward 11, Samoguri Gaon, Chohorikota Koiborta Gaon, AMCH 4th Grade Colony, Madhubon Tea Estate Lines 1 and 5, Dumordolong Gaon, Hunghungia Gaon, Muatoni Gaon, Moran Tea Estate Amguri Line, Borghuguloni Gaon, Kacharipather Gaon, Kotoha Gaon, Disang Gaon, Mothawani Gaon, Rongsuwal Nagapather Gaon, Chaulkhuwa Maj Gaon, Nigam Borkheremia Gaon, Rongchongi Gaon, Khatpather Gaon and Samoguri Gaon.The camps focused on educating residents about vector-borne diseases, effective mosquito control measures and the correct use of medicated bed nets, which serve as a highly effective barrier against mosquito bites, particularly during sleeping hours when transmission risk is highest.“Japanese Encephalitis is a serious disease and the monsoon season significantly increases the risk of its spread. Community awareness and the distribution and medicating of bed nets are among our most effective tools in preventing the disease.

We urge all residents, especially those in rural and tea garden areas, to participate actively in these programmes and follow the guidelines given by health workers,” said a health official associated with the campaign.Health workers also stressed the importance of community participation in eliminating mosquito breeding sites around homes, including draining stagnant water from containers, cleaning drains regularly and ensuring that water storage vessels are covered at all times.