Dibrugarh, Aug 16: Health authorities in Dibrugarh have issued an urgent alert after two people died from acute gastroenteritis at Dinjoy Tea Estate in Chabua, amid rising diarrheal cases in the district.

The victims, 12-year-old Kartik Mirdha and 70-year-old Rita Mura, succumbed to severe gastroenteritis symptoms, including vomiting and loose stools. Their deaths prompted the district health department to release comprehensive prevention guidelines for residents.

Joint Director of Health Services, Trishna Borah, clarified misinformation regarding five recent deaths at the estate. Of these, only two were linked to gastroenteritis. The other three had different causes: 17-year-old Rajiv Nayak died of heatstroke after playing football in extreme heat, 30-year-old Ayesha Mirdha died from general vomiting, and 60-year-old Jaymati Rajput died from cancer.

Health officials have urged residents to seek immediate medical attention at nearby health centres if they experience diarrhoea symptoms such as frequent watery stools, vomiting, lethargy, unconsciousness, or fever.

Prevention measures include boiling drinking water before consumption and using Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) by mixing one packet in one litre of clean water and consuming it within 24 hours. For children, authorities recommend administering ORS after each episode of stool or vomiting. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to dissolve zinc tablets in breast milk or water for infants while continuing regular feeding.

The guidelines also emphasise basic hygiene practices, including the use of clean drinking water, covering food to prevent contamination, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, maintaining proper hand hygiene with soap before eating and after defecation, avoiding street food, consuming freshly cooked meals, and preventing open defecation near water sources.

Support services are available through toll-free numbers — 104 for health information and 108 for ambulance services. The health alert underscores growing concerns about waterborne diseases during the monsoon, when contaminated water sources and poor sanitation drive an increase in gastroenteritis cases across the region.

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