Japanese encephalitis: Medical team rushes to Odisha’s M’kangiri as 15 die in a fortnight

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri, Sep 26:

With Japanese encephalitis assuming epidemic proportions in two blocks-Kalimela and Korukonda of Odisha’s Malkangiri district, 15 children have died of the disease within a fortnight.

affected-with-japanese-encephalitis

At least five children from each block in the district have been afflicted with the disease and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the district.

“Children are suffering from fever, cough and at times are vomiting. The disease has affected small children and after three days they get weak,” said patient’s relative at the district headquarters hospital here.

Out of 34 blood samples drawn from children sent to Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), 15 have tested positive for the virus caused disease.

“15 out of the blood samples sent to RMRC have tested positive. We had informed the government about those deaths. The government has sent two specialists from Berhampur and an equal number of staff nurse. Today they visited our hospital,” said Dr. Sashi Bhusan Mahapatra, ADMO Malkangiri.

A four-member medical team from MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur is camping at the district headquarters hospital here and is treating patients. The team has claimed that there has been an improvement in the condition of the patients admitted to the district headquarters hospital.

Moreover, the district administration has intensified mosquito eradication and cleaning programmes in the affected areas to control the spread of the disease.

“They have taken up some measures to curb mosquito menace in the area following which it has been controlled to some extent. No fresh admissions have been recorded since yesterday. Most of the patients who were admitted have been discharged after they got well. We will review the casualties,” informed Dr. S Sanjib Patra, Assistant Professor MKCG Medical College and Hospital, who is member of the medical team on visit to Malkangiri.

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