13 affected with encephalitis in Arunachal

A total 13 people afflicted with encephalitis are undergoing treatment in Arunachal Pradesh, where a ten-year-old girl succumbed to the killer disease last week.
State epidemiologist L Jampa said today seven of those afflicted have tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) at Arunachal State Hospital (ASH) between July 20 and July 27.
Reports were, however, yet to arrive from the interior districts of the noumtain state.
The girl who succumbed to the disease hailed from Upper Subansiri.
To contain the spread of the disease, the health department launched fogging operation in and around the state capital during the day.
The fogging operation would be carried out at various sectors and colonies of Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Itanagar, he said.

An emergency meeting was convened by the health department yesterday in which doctors present stressed on putting controlling measures in place as quickly as possible.

The meeting also emphasised on an immediate ban on import of pigs and poultry from Assam, since these are intermediate hosts of JE virus, Jampa said.
JE vaccines available in private dispensaries generally provide about 96per cent protection after a month's time and its role is minimal in times of outbreaks and epidemics, doctors attending the meeting claimed.
JE vaccine provided by the Centre is being given free of cost in Lohit and Changlang districts since last year following reports of JE outbreak in those districts, Jampa, who attended the meeting, said.

The National Health Mission has been requested to provide free JE vaccines in Papum Pare, Upper Subansiri, Lower Subansiri, West Kameng, East Kameng, East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts from where cases have been reported, he added.
Deputy director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programe, K T Mulung, ASH epidemiologist Tana Takum and its medical superintendent D Raina besides Jampa were present at the meeting.