Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome toll in Assam rises to 295

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) has claimed 295 lives and affected 1,727 persons so far this year in Assam, a senior Health department official said on Tuesday.

JE claimed 88 lives and affected 470 persons, while 207 people died due to AES and 1,257 were hit by the disease, Joint Director Health Services-Malaria Dr BK Barua told PTI.

Twenty-four of the 27 districts of the state have been affected by the killer disease with Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang, Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup (Metro) in Lower Assam being the worst affected, while the Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, North Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Golaghat also hit by the disease, health department sources said.

Measures to combat the disease were continuing with fogging, regular supply of vaccines and medicines to hospitals, district hospitals and other health centres, besides awareness campaigns at all administrative levels, including the local panchayats, the sources said.