MALKANGIRI: The death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis climbed up to 65 with two more children succumbing to the deadly virus on Sunday.
The two children, both girls, have been identified as Swati Hantal (2) of Lamtaguda village under Khairput panchayat and Rita Madkami (4) of Kambeda village under Korukonda panchayat. They were under treatment in the District Headquarters Hospital.
On Friday, three other children Sujit Beti (5) of Bhejaguda village under Kalimela block and Gayatri Peda (4) of Sindhibeda village under Mathili block died during treatment in DHH while another girl Jhumri Padiami (4) of Eralkundi village under Podia block died on the way to the hospital. Hospital sources confirmed on Sunday that the death was due to JE.
Meanwhile, the six-member Central team led by Dr Kalpana Baruah, Joint-Director (Entomology) visited some more JE affected villages on the third day of their tour of the district and interacted with the villagers who lost their children to JE. The district administration, on the other hand, has claimed that the number of JE affected kids being admitted to the DHH has come down which proves that situation is slowly moving towards normalcy.