From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Assam health department will launch an experimental adult vaccination drive as a preventive against deadly Japanese encephalitis in Sivasagar district of Assam, according to Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma.
He said Assam would be the first state in the country to go for adult vaccination against the deadly disease that has taken a heavy toll in the state especially in Sivasagar district in Upper Assam.
He said as there was no effective treatment against the disease, the state government was left with no other option but to go for vaccination of the adult population and outcome the pilot project that was being launched in Sivasagar district would be vital for expansion of the drive to other parts of the district.
He pointed out that neighbouring Nepal had tasted success in preventing occurrence of Japanese encephalitis through adult vaccination and that has encouraged Assam government to go for similar exercise.
The minister further informed that vaccination for children in the state had delivered the desired results as the incidents of the disease was showing a declining trend among the minor population.
There were 351 cases and 89 deaths due to Japanese encephalitis reported in Assam till August 9 in the current year, according to an official source.
Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing inflammation of the membrane around the brain, often fatal if not treated soon.
For the prevention and control of the vector-borne disease, including Japanese encephalitis, the Indian government is implementing an integrated National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) under the National Rural Health Mission.
Vectors are the transmitters of disease-causing organisms that carry the pathogens from one host to another.
