MANGALDAI, July 21 - Even though vaccination drive for children and adult below 60 years of age was already carried out, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has turned serious in Darrang district claiming altogether four lives within this month as confirmed by the district Health Department.
Moreover till filing of this report today, the Health Department here has confirmed as many as ten other JE positive cases who are undergoing treatment in the GMCH or private hospitals at the State capital.
On last Saturday night, one Manowar Ali (73), a resident of Sanowa under the jurisdiction of Sipajhar Primary Health Centre (PHC) died in the GMCH after he was found JE positive on July 10 last. Earlier three other JE positive cases identified as Gyasuddin Sheikh (18) of village Baraipara under Kharupetia PHC , Bulu Begam (61) of village Chamuapara and Iplin Akhtara (10) of village Dhula-Abhoypukhuri both under Jaljali PHC, were reported dead.
Meanwhile, seven more JE positive cases including two children and five adults under 60 years of age have been reported. They are: Kaustav Sibam (3) of village Chapai- Jaljali , Sultana Parveen (10) of Silbori-Kharupetia, Jehirul Islam (19) of Harinkhoja-Jaljali, Rumis Alam Rosbani (24) of Sanowa-Sipajhar, Tarani Sarma (51) of Bamunpara-Jaljali, Chayanika Sahariya (18) of Udmari-Jaljali and Dipjyoti Deka (23) of Outala-Jaljali.
Apart from four JE death cases, deaths of two other persons identified as Maheswar Kumar (50) of Kumarpara-Jaljali and Dimbeswar Barua (52) of Outala-Jaljali suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) have also been reported .
In the meantime news of new AES cases, which can turn JE positive later, are being reported almost everyday over the last few days. According to the district Health Department sources, all persons with JE virus could not be covered under JE vaccination campaign either due to their lack of awareness or floating habitations.
The adult vaccination campaign, which was conducted in the district couple of months back targeting a population of around 4.80 lakhs in between the age group of 15 to 60 years, has achieved an average target of more than 83 per cent while the children vaccination campaign conducted earlier in 2013 could cover over all 2.74 lakhs out of the targeted child population of around 3.20 lakhs in the district, the source added.