Guwahati: Japanese encephalitis claimed at least 23 lives in Assam over the course of 15 days, according to a National Health Mission report.
According to the NHM report, Assam experienced four more deaths from the mosquito-borne illness during the course of the last day, bringing the total to 23. Two deaths each were reported from the districts of Nalbari and Morigaon.
In contrast, 16 new instances of JE were found in the state in the previous 24 hours. The NHM study noted that while Barpeta, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong East, and Hojai each reported one case, Nagaon recorded four cases, Sivasagar two, and Nalbari and Udalguri districts each reported three cases.
With this, Assam has reported 160 JE cases in total since July 1.
The disease has affected lower Assam districts like Barpeta, Kamrup Metropolitan, Nalbari, and Udalguri as well as upper Assam districts like Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, and Lakhimpur. It has also affected central Assam districts like Nagaon, Hojai, and Morigaon as well as the hill district of Karbi Anglong East.
While addressing to media, Dr. R. L. Nunisa, joint director of health services (Malaria) and state programme officer for the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program of Assam stated that the situation with Japanese Encephalitis in the state is being monitored and that every preventive measure is being taken to fight the illness.
“The state is experiencing the season of transmission for instances of Japanese encephalitis. In addition, the flooding and extreme heat have made things worse.
Awareness campaigns and fogging activities have been stepped up all around the state. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are being provided in the afflicted districts to stop the sickness from spreading, said Dr. Nunisa.