Japanese Encephalitis
Representative image.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has claimed two persons so far this year in Dibrugarh district.

With the advent of the rainy season, the possible outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and other vector-borne diseases has been a cause of concern for the health department in Dibrugarh district.

Speaking to Northeast Now, joint director of health services, Dibrugarh, Udayan Kumar Baruah said that out of three conformed cases of JE, two persons died to the deadly disease.

He said another 20 persons have been detected with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and they are undergoing treatment.

Also read: Japanese Encephalitis claims seven lives in Assam’s Lakhimpur

“Since the rains have arrived making the environment conducive for vector-borne diseases, we have sounded an alert. Apart from the two deaths so far, the other patients, who have tested Japanese Encephalitis positive are undergoing treatment,” said a health official.

“They are in various stage of recovery,” the official said.

The blood samples of another eight individuals have been sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Lahowal for test as they displayed symptoms of the disease. Most of the cases were reported from the rural pockets of the district.

The health official said regular fogging is being carried out in the Encephalitis-prone areas while anti-larval pesticides are being sprayed at waterlogged areas, sewers and drains.

Besides, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and insecticide treated bed nets (ITBN) are also being distributed among people living in the vulnerable pockets of the district.

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]