The death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis has now risen to 50 in Assam after an elderly lady died due to the disease at Haflong Civil Hospital in Dima Hasao district on Saturday.
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The lady has been identified as Kunjalata Hakamkasa. She is a resident of Hatikhali area of Dima Hasao district.
The death of the 60-year-old-lady is the first case of death due to Japanese Encephalitis in Dima Hasao district this year.
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Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that free treatment would be provided to the Japanese Encephalitis patients in the state.
While addressing a press conference at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Saturday minister Sarma said, “The treatment and medicines for Japanese Encephalitis patients, who are treated in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of medical colleges’ hospitals, will be free. The state government will make payment to the medical colleges for the treatment.”
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He also said, “The Japanese Encephalitis affected patients, who undergo treatment in private nursing homes, will also get financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh from the state government.”
Sarma announced that the doctors, nurses, ASHA workers and other employees engaged in government medical college hospitals and any other government hospital would not get leave up to September.
A total of 135 persons died due to Japanese Encephalitis in 2015 while the death toll in 2017 was 87.