Guwahati, July 1 (PTI/ IANS): Twenty-one people have died due to Japanese Encephalitis outbreak in Assam, which has reported 69 cases of the disease, a senior official of the Union Health ministry said on Monday after a central team reviewed the situation here.
“There are two crucial months to come -- July and August. The challenge would be to contain the outbreak to the minimum in the next two months,” Additional Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, who led the four-member central team, said.
After a review meeting with the state health department officials in Guwahati, Kumar told waiting journalists that the state health department is “very” active and things are “under control”.
“We have reviewed the situation with health department officials of the state. So far 21 deaths have taken place out of the 69 reported cases of JE. I also reviewed the immunisation status which is vital to prevention of incidence of JE,” he said.
“We are chalking out the strategy this month to contain the spread of the disease in these two months when the highest number of cases are registered,” Kumar added.
The four-member central team, including senior officials from the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, visited the state to take stock of the situation on the instructions of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Principal Secretary, Assam Health and Family Welfare Department, Samir K Sinha, said, “We have earmarked certain beds in the ICUs for patients suffering from JE to ensure they get prompt medical treatment.”
Joint Director Health Services, malaria, U Fangso said most of the upper Assam districts, including Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, and lower Assam district of Kamrup were affected by the mosquito-borne disease.
Central team rushed to Assam
The Union Health Ministry has sent a team to Assam after 21 people died across the state due to Japanese Encephalitis, an official said on Monday.
The Central team, headed by Additional Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar and senior officers from the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, is reviewing the situation.
“A total of 69 cases of JE are reported out of which 21 deaths have taken place in past three months.
“Most of the JE cases have taken places in Upper Assam districts. The overall situation is under control but we are monitoring the situation for two crucial months, July and August, which are still left,” Sanjeeva Kumar said.
Noting that the child vaccine programme has gone up by 18 per cent, he said that there is a need to boost the adult vaccine programme too.
Hope Modi govt. rises from deep slumber, says Cong. on Encephalitis deaths in Assam
The Congress on Monday hit out at the Modi government over the spread of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Assam and hoped that the Centre rises from its “deep slumber” to prevent any epi demic.
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) has now reached Assam as 10 people have lost their lives, Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
He cited a media report which said Assam has so far recorded 10 deaths due to AES.
“AES already killed 133 innocents in Bihar! Double Engine BJP governments have not learnt any lessons,” Surjewala said.
“Hope central government rises from its deep slumber to prevent any epidemic!” he said.
