11 children in Odisha’s Malkangiri dist die of Japanese Encephalitis

Reported by Ranjan Rath
Malkangiri, Dec 7:

Outbreak of Japanese  Encephalitis in Odisha’s Malkangiri district has taken the life of 11 children in the last 20 days.

Sources in the district Health department said the deceased were in the age group of 1 to 3 years.

The viral disease causes sudden vomiting and fever and the patient dies within 24 to 48 hours of being afflicted witb the disease.

According to reports, Potrel village of Korukonda block lalone has recorded the death of eight children.

“Each family of the village has lost at least one child in the last five years,” said ex-sarpanch Ghenu Muduli.

Outbreak of the unknown viral disease takes place in November and December every year resulting in the death of nearly 15 children, he added.

More than 80 children have died in the last seven years in the village. Twenty eight of them died in 2012 and 15 in 2013.  More than 100 children have died in the district as a whole in the last three years.

A medical team, led by assistant director Dr MM Pradhan had visited the village on December 3 and had taken the blood samples of the ailing children and admitted them to the nearby hospitals.

“Prevailing superstitions and unhealthy food habits of the tribals are the major reasons for the spread of the virus,” said Malkangiri CDMO Dr Uday Shankar Mishra, adding that the situation is under control.