At least 20 Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases have been detected in East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh so far.
The district has so far recorded a sizable number of fever cases having Acute Encephalitic Syndrome (AES).
The district health department reported five JE cases till Monday last, but the number was increased to 20 after 15 new JE positive cases detected on Tuesday.
District medical officer of East Siang Dr Kaling Dai said the department has taken every possible step to contain spreading of the dreaded mosquito borne pathogens.
Thus, it has issued order imposing complete ban on import of any pig, piglets and duck for a period of one month.
The health department has taken step to destroy mosquito breeding sites besides introducing ‘fogging drive’ in the red light areas.
According to report, Bakin Pertin Memorial District Hospital at Pasighat and other health centres of the district have collected a sizeable number of blood samples for testing, out of which five were tested JE positive.
District officer of vector borne disease control programme of East Siang, Dr K Lego, when contacted, found reluctant to disclose any information about JE and AES cases recorded in the district from his side.
He said “The state authority has warned me not to disclose any findings about JE and other AES cases before the media”, said Dr Lego.
However, sources from State Health department say that 20 JE cases were reported from East Siang district so far.
The state’s Health & Family Welfare department is sending a surveillance team to East Siang to take stock of the situation and monitor the department activities to control further outbreak of the viral disease.
It needs to mention that Dhemaji district of north Assam bordering East Siang and Lower Siang districts of Arunachal so far recorded 16 JE cases along with 76 AES cases.
JE has already claimed two lives in the district.
The district health department, however, achieved success in controlling further outbreak of the vector born diseases by introducing massive fogging, oorganizing awareness meeting and bed net impregnation.