Japanese Encephalitis (JE) continues to bare its fangs in Assam with one more person succumbing to the disease in Dibrugarh on Wednesday thus taking the death toll in the State to 66 this year. So far, 324 individuals have tested positive to the disease and another 874 persons have been diagnosed with Acute Encephalitic Syndrome (AES) this year.
A report appearing in the The Times of India stated that with all efforts to control the spread of JE having proved to be futile so far, the Assam Health Department is now hoping that the “gradual decrease in temperature” will bring an end to the JE virus.
The report further quoted U Phangsu, State Nodal Officer of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme as saying on Friday, “JE claimed the life of a person in Dibrugarh on Wednesday taking the death toll to 66. We are taking no chance and have sounded an alert to all district health services to remain vigilant of any JE case that may arise and take necessary measures to provide all possible medical facilities. The medical staffs in all hospitals have been directed to attend to such patients with utmost care.”
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JE is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). While most infections results in little or no symptoms, occasional inflammation of the brain occurs and symptoms may include vomiting, headache, fever, confusion and seizures. This occurs after 5 to 15 days after infection.