13 dead, 22 affected by Japanese Encephalitis in Assam

Altogether 13 persons have died and 22 have tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam's Jorhat district during the last 10 days, Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mobibur Rahman said here today.

While seven persons died in Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), six others passed away at Jorhat Christian Medical Centre (JCMC), Rahman said.

Among those who have tested positive, 18 are admitted in JMCH, two at JCMC while two others are undergoing treatment at two private nursing homes here, officials here said.

Of these 22, four were minors and five women and all are residents from the district's rural areas. The Joint Director said they have so far distributed 33,000 medicated mosquito nets in the affected areas and in JE prone areas and organised 205 health awareness camps.

The situation was being closely monitored and blood samples collected to ascertain whether there were more cases of JE in the district. Spraying of DDT and fogging have been initiated in over 45 villages in and around the Jorhat district.