Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 10 2010:
A number of patients with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) mainly from the valley districts of Manipur have been hospitalized during the last 15 days.
In a press statement issued today by the Director of Health Services, Manipur, Y Yaima, informed that AES can be caused by various organisms.
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus can also cause AES.
The statement enumerated the main symptoms of AES 1.Abrupt onset of higher fever, headache, sometimes with vomiting and diarrhea.
.2Altered sensorium.
The symptoms can be with or without 1.New onset seizures (excluding febrile seizures).
.2Irritability, somnolence or abnormal behavior greater than that seen with usual febrile illness.
.3Loss of consciousness.
If the above symptoms appear in an individual specially between the age group 1 to 15 years the individual must be hospitalized immediately.
Chances of recovery from the illness is high in case medical treatment is sought early.
There is no curative drugs of the disease except managing the case symptomatically.
Though JE virus is transmitted by mosquitoes from the wild birds, pigs, etc.there is no man to man transmission of the disease.
Normally, the majority of the population has protective immunity from low dose infection of the virus.
The individual with weak immunity are vulnerable to the disease.
The statement added that the prevalence of JE disease spread by the mosquito had already been established in the valley districts.
Being a vector borne disease the best preventive measures are protection from mosquito bites, wearing of loose and long dresses and sleeping under bed nets.
It further said that to prevent the wide spread transmission of the disease, the state health department has taken up various measures.
Malathion fogging operation is being carried out in all districts to liquidate the virus carrying mosquitoes.
The insecticide treatment of bed nets is being carried out at different places.
The department seeks cooperation of general public in this regard.