Doomdooma, April 22 -- A common aquatic insect, often ignored or even consumed by locals, has emerged as a potential hidden threat after a series of bite cases reported in upper Assam, a medical expert has revealed.

Surajit Giri, an anaesthesiologist, working on snakebite awareness and associated with the ICMR's "Zero Snakebite Death" project at Demow Rural Hospital, highlighted an alarming yet largely overlooked health risk posed by a small water-dwelling insect found across ponds and wetlands in the region.

The warning follows a recent case involving a 30-year-old trailer driver from Darikapar area in Sivasagar district, who experienced severe swelling and pain in his leg after stepping into shallow water near a hilly route close to t...