TURA: A medical alert has been sounded and order to seize pigs and cattle in the town areas has been issued after two persons, including a patient from Tura, tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis (JE), a brain infection disease.
A 22-year-old woman from Upper Chandmari locality of Tura and another 38-year-old woman from Simkalanggre village under Alagre community health centre of West Garo Hills were found with symptoms of JE including continuous fever.
Blood samples were taken of the Tura patient on May 30 and of the Simkalanggre village on May 31. The results of the test released on Friday revealed both to be positive. They have since been admitted to Tura civil hospital for treatment.
The disease is caused by the mosquito borne JE virus which is spread by the culex type mosquito. Pigs and wild birds serve as a reservoir for the virus and symptoms include headache, vomiting, fever, confusion and seizures and occasional inflammation of the brain.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills has directed the Tura Municipal Board to deploy its enforcement inspectors and seize pigs and cattle
from residents who are illegally rearing them in various localities of the town.
A vast number of localities, beginning from Wadanang, K A Road, Mission Compound all the way to Upper Chandmari and distant Dakopgre have people illegally rearing pigs despite a ban. With the first cases of JE having now been reported, authorities are worried it could infect more people and have decided to go on an overdrive and seize the illegal livestock.
