Two more die of JE in Odisha’s Malkangiri; toll reaches 58

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri, Oct 17:

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) claimed lives of two more children in Odisha’s Malkangiri district today taking the death toll in the vector-borne disease to 58 in 39 days.

The deceased were identified as Rame Telam (2) of Gorakhapali villager under Padia block and Debe Padiami (3) of Telerai village under Kalimela block in the district. Both died while undergoing treatment in the ICU of the district headquarters hospital, sources said.

On the other hand, Joint Secretary of the Health Department today informed that 115 kids have been discharged from the hospital after being cured. Awareness would be created among people not to seek advice from quacks for treatment of JE, he said.

The state government yesterday appointed a senior bureaucrat as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to monitor and oversee measures to check the spread of the vector-borne disease in Malkangiri.

Deputy Secretary of Panhayati Raj Department, Nruparaj Sahu, has been appointed as OSD to oversee works in the tribal-dominated district. The senior official will be camping in Malkangiri for two months for effective coordination between departments to bring the menace under check.