Death Toll Due to Japanese Encephalitis Rises to 38 in Odisha

The death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis has reached 38 in Odisha's Malkangiri district while the disease continues to spread to other districts.

The death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis has reached 38 in Malkangiri district, Odisha while the disease continues to spread its tentacles to other districts.

An 11-year-old boy of Bengama village in Brahmagiri area of Puri district died after contracting the vector-borne disease.

What You Should Know about Japanese Encephalitis - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito borne viral disease associated with inflammation of the brain.

‘Japanese encephalitis virus is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and is spread by mosquitoes. JEV is the main cause of viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia with an estimated 68 000 clinical cases every year.’

"As many as 105 persons have been afflicted by Japanese Encephalitis, out of which 25 persons have been cured," said Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.

He said: "Some doctors are camping in Malkangiri district, while some paediatricians will visit the affected areas to take stock of the situation."

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan has met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to discuss how to prevent the spread of disease.

Outbreak Of Japanese Encephalitis In India Maybe Due To New Vaccine-Resistant Strain
More than 200 cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in Assam, India. And the highest number of cases are from Sivasagar district.

"The Health minister has assured to extend all possible support for identifying the causes of the disease and advise the state government regarding the effective steps for combating the clinical fallout of its spread and preventing the mortality associated with it," said Pradhan.

The MoS also urged Nadda to send a high-level fact-finding team to investigate the causes for the outbreak of the disease and suggest preventive measures to contain the same.

Tamil Nadu State Alerted About Japanese Encephalitis
Union Health Minister has warned the state about emerging cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Source-IANS

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Globally $35 billion will be required for immunization in the next ten years to save an additional ten million lives.