NALBARI, Aug 3 � Japanese encephalitis which broke out for the first time in Nalbari district has so far claimed one life at Barkuriha village under Barbhag Revenue circle. The deceased was identified as Rajmohan Raimedhi, aged about 74. Raimedhi was admitted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) with high fever where he was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis. One more patient from the village is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The surfacing of his fatal disease has created panic among the people of these areas. The people have alleged that the District Health Department has taken no serious steps to combat it. The district Malaria department sprayed DDT only among four families. The district Malaria officer opined that as the area is not included in the action plan for spraying DDT, they have no right to spray DDT without the permission of the higher authority. On the other hand the district health department though sent a bugging vehicle to the affected village it miserably failed to discharge smoke due to some mechanical defect. Even, the deputy commissioner of Nalbari who is the president of district health society or the joint director of health services is yet to visit the affected village which is situated only eight kilometres away from Nalbari town.
The panic stricken villagers on Sunday organised an awareness meeting at Barkuriha LP school inviting health and malaria officials. The awareness meeting presided over by Dr Biren Deka was addressed among others by Dr. Kamal Dev Goswami, health officer of Kamarkuchi PHC, Dr Gokul Patowary, IDS, Nalbari, Dipak Tamuli, district malaria officer, Rajib Sarma, media expert NRHM and Ashok Kalita, panchayat president.
The panicky villagers demanded the health department to immediately administer Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the village. They also demanded the district administration to shift the piggery farm, the source of this virus to a areas place away from inhabited.
