Rising Concerns Over Japanese Encephalitis in Assam's Lakhimpur District

Health Crisis in Lakhimpur

Lakhimpur, July 15: The situation regarding Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam's Lakhimpur district has escalated, resulting in three fatalities, prompting health officials to enhance preventive strategies to limit the disease's spread.

Official reports indicate that one individual died from Japanese Encephalitis, while two others lost their lives due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The AES victims have been identified as 13-year-old Lakhinandan Nath from Khoga village and 82-year-old Makhani Bora from Bihpuria.

Previously, on July 3, an 11-year-old boy named Lytton Deori from Bordeori village in Narayanpur passed away from JE while receiving treatment at Assam Medical College (AMC) in Dibrugarh, underscoring the increasing threat of this vector-borne illness in the area.

The health department of Lakhimpur confirmed that 38 individuals affected by JE and AES have successfully recovered after receiving medical care. Currently, three patients infected with JE are still being monitored at Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, while six others have recently been discharged.

In light of the rising case numbers, the district health department has ramped up vector control measures. Fogging operations using Malathion are being carried out in the Bihpuria and Dhakuakhana Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC) regions to mitigate mosquito breeding, a key factor in the transmission of JE.

Japanese Encephalitis is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, presenting a significant public health challenge in Assam, particularly during the monsoon season.

Health officials are urging the community to stay alert, maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, and promptly report any symptoms such as high fever, headaches, or neurological signs to the nearest healthcare facility.