IMPHAL, July 23: Manipur Health department has confirmed the detection of twelve cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in the North Eastern state bordering Myanmar.
Health Minister DK Korungthang said they department have detected about 12 positive cases in the State and they are given treatment,” says. “However all possible precautionary measures have been taken to tackle the situation. So there is no need to panic,” minister added.
Stating that it’s not an outbreak and fogging had already been done in the localities of infected persons to exterminate the mosquitoes, minister who led an inspection team to some of the health care centres on Friday, said that necessary instructions have been given to admit the suspected JE cases if any for treatment.
JE is spread by a mosquito species known as Culex. There are four varieties of Culex mosquitoes. Out of them, Culex Tritaeniorhynchus and Culex Vishnui are the two common species which are spreading JE in Manipur, according to Director Health services O Ibomcha.
Stating that almost 85 per cent of JE cases are detected in persons below 15 years while 15 per cent are confined to persons above 60 years, Ibomcha also informed the department has adequate stock of necessary medicines.
The positive cases detected so far in Manipur which recorded nine such cases of JE last year, are from six districts of the state including Chandel and Churachandpur bordering Myanmar.
The report of detecting JE cases has gripped the Churachandpur district headquarters, about 65 km south of here, in panic. Even some schools in the hill town including Lalthuaipuii Foundation School, VK Tawna High school, Young Learners School have declared holiday (of their lower classes as the younger students were more vulnerable to the disease) for five days till July 26,sources said.
