Assam faces rising Covid-19 cases and extreme moist heat

Assam is facing dual health challenges related to rising Covid-19 cases and increasing extreme weather patterns. Health officials report a rise in Covid-19 infections since late June 2026, with approximately 80-90 cases reported in upper Assam during July and August. The circulating variant is identified as the RF. 5 subvariant of Omicron. While experts note that patients are primarily exhibiting flu-like symptoms and do not currently suggest a trend toward severe infection, they warn that senior citizens and individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes or hypertension remain at higher risk.

Simultaneously, meteorologist Prof BN Goswami has reported that extreme moist heat days in Assam have increased nearly fivefold over the last 50 years, rising from roughly 20 days per year to 100 days. Unlike drier heat in other regions, the simultaneous rise in temperature and humidity in Assam prevents the body's natural cooling mechanisms from functioning effectively. Prof Goswami warned that these conditions can lead to serious public health crises, as the body struggles to regulate internal heat, potentially affecting heart and organ function.