21 die of Japanese encephalitis in Odisha

Odisha government has directed officials to keep a close vigil on the spread of Japanese Encephalitis, which has claimed at least 21 lives in the state's Malkangiri district, and send more doctors to the disease-hit areas.

Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, who held an interdepartmental meeting on Sunday to review preparedness to contain the disease, directed that more teams of doctors be sent to the affected areas.

An outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in 21 villages under six blocks of the district was reported last month. Altogether 27 people, mostly children, suffered from the disease which has so far claimed 21 lives, an official statement said.

Doctors and specialists were sent to the district to assess the situation and take steps to check the disease. Health assistance booths have been opened in the affected areas, while fogging work intensified to control mosquito that spreads the disease, it said.

Since the disease spreads from pigs to humans, mostly children, through mosquitoes, the government is taking steps to relocate the pig farms away from the villages.

A team of Animal Resources department will also be sent to the affected areas to initiate necessary steps. Blood samples of pigs would also be collected and sent to a laboratory for thorough examination, the statement said.