Published Date: 2016-11-12 12:26:32
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (32): (OR)
Archive Number: 20161112.4623814
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS AND OTHER – INDIA (32): (ODISHA)
******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 11 Nov 2016
Source: The New Indian Express [edited]
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2016/nov/11/encephalitis-toll-set-to-cross-100-1537296.html
Collective measures to contain the outbreak notwithstanding, the toll of Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases in the state is set to cross 100.
With 2 more deaths in the past 24 hours, 96 people have died of both diseases in 62 days in Malkangiri district. The administration put the toll at 87, however, including 57 AES cases and the rest JE. The count has kept spiraling for the past few days, as people still prefer disaris (village priests) to doctors and report late to hospitals.
The children who succumbed to AES have been identified as from Bayanaikguda and from Korukonda. They died while undergoing treatment at Malkangiri district headquarters hospital.
The toll this year [2016] is officially the highest since 2012. Although suspected AES cases and deaths, including a few JE positive cases, have been reported in Malkangiri over the last 4 years, 54 positive cases were reported in 2012, of which 39 children died. No death was recorded in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Meanwhile, an 8 member expert team from Ayush Department visited the district on Wednesday [9 Nov 2016] and inquired about the cause of the outbreak of the disease. The team members visited some of the affected villages and interacted with parents of the victims.
Director of health services Dr Kailash Chandra Dash said 8 pediatric specialists are engaged to treat patients in the district headquarters hospital. “A serious trend has emerged in most of the fresh cases. The kids are succumbing to the disease in 10-12 hours after they develop symptoms. In some cases, no improvement is witnessed even if they are kept on ventilators,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adivasi Samaj Mahasangh has intensified its agitation against the government for its failure to contain the vectorborne disease. Hundreds of tribals gathered the Collectorate demanding compensation for family members of the victims and permanent solutions to check the outbreak.
Leave a Reply