Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak Claims Six Lives in Jorhat District, Assam

The first case of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) was reported on January 13, 2015 in Jorhat district, Assam but the first case result was Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Since then, the Joint Director of Health in Jorhat started close monitoring and kept vigilant of the JE outbreak. Till date, 34 cases have been reported in Jorhat Medical College and hospital and from some private nursing home.

Out of 34, 22 cases has been tested positive and six persons have died so far. Besides this, seven persons have died due to AES, a symptom is almost same as JE but less fatal than it.

The preventive measures have been taken up by the health department with the support from district administration, DRDA, Vetenary Department. So far 33,000 insecticide treated bed net have been distributed in 27 affected rural villages of Jorhat.

About 31,300 impregnation of bed has been done, fogging and spraying of DDT in various places, 207 awareness camp being organized and 5,500 paralysis conducted.

Most of the suspected JE patients are undergoing treatment in JMC-H with the serious patient being treated in ICU and those out of danger were lodged in medicine ward for close monitoring and medication. The Joint Director Health, Mobidur Rehman has prepared a leaflet about the awareness on JE and has been distributing in the rural areas and tea garden belts since the outbreak of JE.

Source-ANI