Japanese encephalitis claims 38 lives in 4 weeks in India's Odisha

At least 38 children died in India's eastern state of Odisha due to Japanese encephalitis in past four weeks, officials said Thursday.

The deaths were reported in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district, about 650 km southwest of Bhubaneswar city, the capital of Odisha.

"With four more deaths of children reported last night, the death toll due to Japanese encephalitis has reached to 38 in less than a month in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district," health officials said.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the most important cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. It is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and is spread by mosquitoes.

A senior health official Arati Ahuja told media the local government has decided to construct enclosures (pigpens) near affected villages to isolate Japanese encephalitis infected pigs in order to curb the disease, which is mainly spreading through mosquito bites.

The authorities have cancelled the holidays of government employees in the district in wake of the grim situation.

According to WHO, most JEV infections are mild fever and headache or without apparent symptoms. However, severe disease is characterized by rapid onset of high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, seizures, spastic paralysis and ultimately death.

On Tuesday, India's rights panel - National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of the media reports regarding deaths due to Japanese encephalitis in Odhisa's Malkangiri. The panel issued notice to the local government seeking a full report including the steps being taken by it to control the spread of Japanese encephalitis.

Reports said the district authorities have suggested vaccination of the children to control the disease from spreading, which however would be done from next year.

"There is a need to create awareness among the villagers towards the health hazard which is related to their tradition of rearing of pigs. Vaccination of the children to protect them from Japanese encephalitis from the next year will be too late," the rights panel in its statement said.

Last year 52 people died in India's northeastern state of Assam due to Japanese encephalitis. Endit