Encephalitis toll set to cross 100

Two more deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 96 persons have died so far

BHUBANESWAR: Collective measures to contain the outbreak notwithstanding, toll of Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the State is all set to cross 100 leaving the health officials helpless.  
With two more deaths in the last 24 hours, 96 persons have died of both the diseases in 62 days in Malkangiri district. The administration, however, put the toll at 87, including 57 AES cases and the rest JE. The count kept spiralling for the last few days as people are still preferring disaris (village priests) to doctors and reporting late at hospitals.

The children who succumbed to AES have been identified as Gobinda Kope of Bayanaikguda and Mangaraj Madkami of Korukonda. They died while undergoing treatment at Malkangiri district headquarters hospital.
The toll this year is officially highest since 2012. Though suspected AES cases and deaths including a few JE positive cases are being reported in Malkangiri for the last four years, 54 positive cases were reported in 2012 of which 39 children had died. No death was recorded in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Meanwhile, an eight-member expert team from Ayush Department on Wednesday visited the district and inquired about the cause of the outbreak of the disease. The team members visited some of the affected villages and interacted with parents of the victims.

Director of Health Services Dr Kailash Chandra Dash said eight pediatric specialists are engaged for treatment of patients in the district headquarters hospital. “A serious trend has emerged in most of the fresh cases. The kids are succumbing to the disease in 10 to 12 hours after they develop symptoms. In some cases, no improvement is witnessed even if they are kept in ventilators,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adivasi Samaj Mahasangh has intensified its agitation against the Government for its failure to contain the vector-borne disease.
Hundreds of tribals gheraoed the Collectorate demanding compensation for family members of the victims and permanent solution to check the outbreak.

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