JE claims one, Phaknung fogged to curb spread
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 05 2025: A 15-year-old boy from Phaknung Awang Leikai died due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) on Monday, prompting immediate control measures in the locality, according to Phaknung Social Youths' Club (PSYC) .

In a statement issued Tuesday, PSYC informed that a fogging programme was organised in response to the casualty in coordination with PHALYDA and the Vector Borne Disease Control, Imphal East to contain the spread of vector-borne diseases, which typically surge during the monsoon months in the state.

The tragic death comes at a time when official records from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) show that JE remain a seasonal threat in Manipur.

Although the dashboard records only four JE cases so far this year, with data for 2024 and 2025 still provisional, media reports suggest that the actual figure has already crossed 10 cases this year.

JE claims one, Phaknung fogged to curb spread

Manipur has experienced fluctuating but consistent JE outbreaks in recent years.

According to NCVBDC data, the state reported 57 cases and three deaths in 2018, 343 cases and six casualties in 2019, 29 cases and four deaths in 2020, 13 cases and two deaths in 2021, 66 cases and six deaths in 2022, and 64 cases with one death in 2023 .

In 2024, the state logged 44 cases and two casualties.

A 2019 descriptive study conducted by a team of microbiologists from JNIMS, VRDL Department of Microbiology, highlighted the seasonal and demographic pattern of JE outbreaks in the state.

The prevalence rate (PR) of the condition was found to be highest among individuals under the age of 15, with a comparable rate observed in the 60-and above age group, according to the study.

Among other age brackets, the 15�30 age group reported the highest PR, followed by those aged 30�45 and 45�60, indicating a statistically significant association between age and prevalence.

It also found that rural areas are more affected than urban.

The peak transmission period was observed between July and August, coinciding with the monsoon season, and the virus was found to have spread across both hill and valley districts.

The study also pointed out a shifting trend in age group vulnerability and called for an expansion of systematic JE surveillance across the state.

It recommended a more robust monitoring mechanism to detect changes in JE prevalence and improve the public health response.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, with Culex tritaeniorhynchus commonly known as Culex being the primary vector.

While most JEV infections are asymptomatic or result in mild symptoms such as fever and headache, approximately one in 250 cases progresses to severe illness.

The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days.

In children, initial symptoms may include abdominal pain and vomiting.

Severe cases can escalate rapidly, presenting with high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures, coma, spastic paralysis and in some cases, death.

The case fatality rate among symptomatic patients may reach up to 30 per cent.

Among survivors, 20 to 30 per cent suffer long-term neurological or cognitive complications such as seizures, speech or memory issues, behavioural disorders, or limb weakness.

There is no antiviral treatment or cure for Japanese encephalitis.

Management is supportive, focusing on stabilising the patient and alleviating symptoms.

JE is a medical emergency, and prompt medical intervention is critical.

Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent JE.

The World Health Organisation recommends integrating JE vaccination into national immunisation programmes in endemic areas.

In India, under the Universal Immunisation Programme, two doses of JE vaccine are administered, the first at 9th month of age with the measles vaccine, and a second between 16 to 24 months with the DPT booster, since April 2013.As of now, routine JE immunisation has been introduced in 334 of the 355 identified endemic districts across the country.

Meanwhile, adult JE vaccination programmes have also been rolled out in 42 districts of Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal using the JENVAC vaccine for individuals aged 15 and above.