Two cases of JE confirmed in CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 22 2016 :
Even as the
district health officials are
gearing up to tackle any
eventuality in the wake of two
cases of JE being confirmed in
the district, a wave of viral fever
has hit the district leaving an
overwhelming number of
residents bed-ridden and
forcing several schools to
cancel their classes for the
week.
The cases of fever that
witnessed a surge in the after-
math of the spate of
cloudburst and floods has
taken a visible toll as health
authorities battle to tackle the
overwhelming cases of fever
in the district.
The viral fever is believed
to have grounded hundreds to
their bed at any given time
this week, but what has really
kept the health officials on
their toes and sent them scur-
rying for relief is Japanese
Encephalitis (JE), as they
seek to contain any possible
outbreak.
Two patients,
Lamngaihvung, 37 of
Gouchinkhup Veng and
Demkhosei, 12 of Siden Vil-
lage under Sagang PHC,
initially treated at the District
Hospital here but later referred to JNIMS and RIMS as they developed
symptoms similar to JE have now been confirmed with the dis-
ease.
With fever still rising at an alarming rate, the Health De-
partment is gearing up to contain its outbreak with fogging
exercises and JE camps in the area where the two cases have
been reported.
Fogging and JE camp have been started at
Siden village while similar exercise was planned for
Gouchinkhup veng, for tonight and early tomorrow.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of students seeking
leave due to fever, several private schools in the town have
cancelled their classes beginning today for the next 4 to 5
days.
More schools are expected to declare the same tomorrow
and in the coming weeks if things fail to improve in the next
couple of days.
VK Tawna High, for instance has 111 cases of absentee
due to fever on Thursday and a dozen other cases of students
left school half-way, prompting the school authorities to de-
clare a holiday until Tuesday next.
When enquired, Dr Biakdiki, a specialist said the current
fever cases are fever that come with the monsoon but noted
that there are more cases than the previous years, probably due
to early and long monsoon.
She nevertheless stressed on the
need for a better drainage system and a proper waste and
sanitation management as these are great breeding places for
insects that help in spreading viruses.
"I'd say we should do something before epidemics hit us,"
she cautioned.
It is learnt that the Health Department is planning to sanc-
tion sufficient number of fogging machines and vaccines for
the district but considering the continuous cases of disease
outbreak witnessed in the district in the past several years
particularly during monsoon, it is not known why the author-
ity concerned is still struggling to obtain even the basics of
equipment each year, after every outbreak.