272 encephalitis deaths this year in Assam

GUWAHATI: At least 272 persons have died in Assam after being diagnosed of having Encephalitis this year.

Of the 272 having shown Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, 124 perished due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) alone, an NRHM health official said today.

AES has affected 1628 people, which included 636 from JE, in 25 of the 27 districts, NRHM State Surveillance Officer Dr B C Bhagabati said, adding, JE was inclusive in AES.

Except the hill districts of Dima Hasao and Hailakandi, rest 25 districts were affected by encephalitis, he said.

The worst-hit districts are Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, and Sonitpur in lower Assam, and Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, and Sibsagar in upper Assam.

Mostly adults were victims of the deadly disease, the NRHM official added.

To contain the disease, fogging was being carried out, and area protection measures such as providing long lasting bed (LLB) anti-mosquito nets, launching public awareness campaigns against the disease were also being undertaken, he said.

Stating that vaccination was the only protection against the disease, Dr Bhagabati said during incidence of epidemic, vaccination cannot be carried out as it will clinically show more patients to be afflicted by encephalitis.