JE has claimed 5 lives this year : Jayantakumar
Source: The Sangai Express

, August 27 2019: Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar has stated that Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases have been rising every year in the State since 2015, and he attributed the growing cases of JE to climate change.

Replying to a call attention motion raised by MLAs Kh Joykisan and Okram Surjakumar in the State Assembly today, Jayantakumar said that the best means to avoid JE is avoiding mosquito bites.

He said that JE is transmitted by a type of mosquito known as Culex.

Only six cases of JE were detected in the State in 2015.The figure rose to 47 in 2016, 195 in 2017 and then it went down to 85 in 2018 .

As for the current year, 232 JE cases have been detected in the State till date.

JE has claimed 5 lives this year : Jayantakumar

There was no report of casualty due to JE in 2015 .

But there were 11 deaths each in 2016 and 2017 .

Three victims succumbed to JE in 2018 and five people have already died due to JE this year, Jayantakumar informed the House.

Of the five victims who succumbed to JE this year, three hailed from Senapati, Imphal East and Thoubal districts while the other two belonged to Kangpokpi district.

Raising the call attention motion, Joykisan pointed out the number of JE cases detected this year and asked how effective is the drug Belladonna 200 which is being distributed by the Government to protect people from JE.

Joykisan asked if Bellodonna 200 can be given to children below 7 years.

Replying to the query, Jayantakumar stated that Rapid Response Teams led by CMOs were constituted as JE cases grew.

As emergency measures, RRTs carried out fogging within 1 Km radius of the place where JE case was detected and chemicals were applied to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

Moreover, bed-nets were treated with chemicals at community level.

Except for Kamjong and Jiribam, reports about JE are collected from all districts every year.

Health Department has been working to collect reports on daily basis from Jiribam and Kamjong districts too, Jayantakumar said.

As clean and hygienic environment is crucial for combating JE, the department has initiated due process to launch a sanitation programme.

Surjakumar suggested issuance of CMHT cards to people suffering from JE in case they do not hold these cards already.

Pointing out that neighbouring Assam had already opened PICU centres in connection with JE after obtaining necessary fund from the Centre, Surjakumar suggested the State Government to open similar PICU centres at least at RIMS, JNIMS and district hospitals.

Responding to the suggestion, Jayantakumar stated that the State Government would soon initiate due process to open PICU centres with monetary assistance from the Centre.

He said that JE patients are being diagnosed and treated free of cost at RIMS, JNIMS and Churachandpur district hospital.

He also appealed to all the eligible citizens to obtain CMHT cards in consultation with local Zilla Parishads, Panchayats and Councillors.

Belladonna 200 is distributed along with a booklet which contains all the dos and don'ts.

Adults should take four Belladonna 200 tablets at a time while children below 7 years should take two tablets at a time, Jayantakumar added.