Dengue & Japanese Encephalitis
Representative image. Photo credit - Rappler

The Meghalaya minister for health and family welfare, A.L Hek, chaired an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening following the outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in the state.

A central team from the union health ministry will visit Garo Hills on Thursday to take stock of the situation in the state.

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Japanese Encephalitis cases have been reported at Tura in West Garo Hills district,.

A government communiqué said that minister Hek reviewed the situation and the state nodal officer of the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme has been directed to reach Tura and monitor the situation.

“Availability of drugs and medicines and treatment facilities has been reviewed and the Director of Health Services (MI) has been directed to provide all possible medical care, and containment measures have also been initiated,” the communiqué said.

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The secretary (Health and Family Welfare) also informed that he regional director from the union ministry of health and family welfare, Dr Mazumder, will visit Garo Hills on Thursday.

An expert from the Japanese Encephalitis Division from the ministry will visit the state at the earliest to review and monitor the situation. Extra fogging machine is being dispatched on Thursday and all measures have been initiated.

The government has appealed to all to bring suspected cases to nearest health facilities for testing and treatment.