JE deaths nearly double in a week, dengue cases cross 2,000-mark

Guwahati: The Japanese Encephalitis (JE) death toll has gone up to 11 in Assam, as the number of fatalities has almost doubled since last week. The state reported six JE cases last week.

After the Assam National Health Mission (NHM) and health department kept JE data undisclosed for several weeks, health minister Keshab Mahanta on Saturday told media persons here that 274 JE cases have been detected in the state so far. "Last year, 325 JE cases were reported, of which 53 patients died. The number of JE deaths has been comparatively low this year," he said.

While the number of cases is surging and it may come closer to last year's figure, Mahanta claimed that due to awareness activities, the number of fatalities has dipped.

The minister said two JE deaths - each from Nagaon and Dhemaji districts - have been confirmed, followed by one death each from Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Charaideo, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Sivasagar and Majuli districts. Mahanta added that most of the active JE cases are undergoing treatment in government hospitals free of cost, while seven patients who are undergoing treatment in private hospitals are being given Rs 1 lakh each from the government.

Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Morigaon have been named high endemic districts in case of JE.

After the monsoon rain, another vector-borne disease, dengue, has wreaked havoc, especially in the Karbi Anglong district. Two dengue deaths have been reported in the state this year and both are from the hill district of Karbi Anglong. Assam recorded 2,122 dengue cases this year. Among the districts, 1,853 cases have been reported from Karbi Anglong, 49 from Dima Hasao, 33 from Kamrup (Metro), 25 from Kamrup and 19 from Jorhat.

Only 27 dengue cases were reported till date in August last year but this year dengue cases have been unusually high already, health officials said.

Meanwhile, 244 malaria cases have been reported this year against last year's 280 malaria cases.