BARIPADA: After Malkangiri and Koraput, death of two children of suspected Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Mayurbhanj district has spread panic among the locals.
The children identified as Nandi Chatra (7), daughter of Ladu Chatra and Sita Chatra (8), daughter of Matai Chatra of Jharjhari village under Thakurmunda block died while undergoing treatment at two separate hospitals.
While Nandi was admitted in Karanjia sub-divisional hospital after she suffered from fever Sita was died at a local primary health centre at Thakurmunda. Though the cause of deaths is yet to be ascertained, but locals feared they died of JE as the symptoms they developed were similar to the deadly disease.
In-charge doctor of Thakurmunda hospital Laxmikanta Mahanta said the blood samples of the girls had been collected and sent to laboratory for testing prior to their deaths. The reports are awaited. Exact cause of deaths will be known only after blood reports are received, he said.
People of Chitrada, Moroda, Rasgobindpur, Amarda, Bisoi, Bijatala and Bangiriposi areas in Mayurbhanj district and some neighbouring villages in Balasore district are scared of the disease after five children, including four boys, were found positive for Japanese encephalitis virus recently.
According to district health officials, 19 children were admitted in Baripada District Headquarters Hospital on the suspicion that they are suffering from Japanese encephalitis. They came from PHCs and CHCs in the district. Five among them have been found JE positive and they are under treatment, they said.
District malaria officer Dr Sashikanta Sethi, however, claimed that no death due to JE has been reported in this district so far. “The positive cases have been referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. In 2014, 14 positive cases were reported from Kusta area of Suliapada,” he added.
District veterinary officials also have visited Moroda, Rasgobindpur and Chitrada areas and collected blood samples from pigs. They have warned people to remain alert and isolate the pigs.
Meanwhile, Mayurbhanj district has been included in the mass immunisation drive which will start next month.
