Encephalitis: Expert team formed, Pradhan disallowed visit

With the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) situation in Malkangiri slipping "out of control", the Odisha government today formed an expert team to undertake an "in-depth study" on the disease even as the state administration refused permission for the proposed visit of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan to the Maoist-hit district.
Jacob John, a renowned clinical virologist, was appointed the chairperson of the six-member team which was likely to visit Malkangiri district tomorrow, officials said.
The team, at its first meeting here with Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Arti Ahuja, discussed the JE situation in the district.
So far, at least 248 children have been affected of whom, 129 are girls. There have been 75 deaths so far and children in the 5-10 age group are affected, said Health department officials.

The expert team was also given reports of observations of the Central team which had visited Malkangiri last month, along with the details of the present situation.
Officials from Regional Medical Research Centre and Vector Control Research Centre also presented their observations.

Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was scheduled to visit Malkangiri tomorrow, has been denied permission. As the Maoists have called a bandh in Malkangiri and the adjoining districts, the Union minister should cancel his programme now, police said.
The state unit of the BJP, however, did not subscribe to the police argument and alleged that it was a "plan" of the Odisha government "to keep the Union minister away from the people of Malkangiri district".

BJD spokesman PK Deb said the Union minister should avoid visiting the Maoist-hit place from the security point of view.