Union health ministry official to visit GH today
TURA/ SHILLONG: Altogether 13 new cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been detected in West Garo Hills taking to total to 15 prompting the state health department to rush in its nodal officer from Shillong to oversee the situation while the Regional Director from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr SD Majumdar, will also be visiting Garo Hills on Thursday.
An expert from the Japanese Encephalitis Division of the ministry will also visit the state at the earliest to review and monitor the situation.
The highest number of cases is from Tura where eight have tested positive for the brain infection disease and are being provided medical treatment.
The patients are not solely from any particular area but are spread across the town.
Absence of any monitoring on the rearing of pigs, particularly in Tura town by the authorities, is believed to have further aggravated the situation as the highest number of cases now comes from the most important town in Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, in the light of the outbreak of the disease in Tura, Health Minister AL Hek had an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Shillong to review the status and situation.
The State Nodal Officer of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme has been directed to rush to Tura and monitor the situation, government officials informed.
The availability of drugs and medicines and treatment facilities have been reviewed and the Directorate of Health Services (MI) has been directed to provide all possible medical care and containment measures have been initiated,” informed the state health department’s Secretary Pravin Bakshi in a statement.
Earlier, a medical alert was sounded and order to seize pigs and cattle in the town areas issued after two persons tested positive.
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.
Director of Directorate of Health Services (DHS) (MI), Dr A War has informed that the state government has taken all steps to contain the outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in the state.
He told reporters on Wednesday, “There is no cause of panic as the government has taken steps to contain the situation. Rapid Response Team is already present in every district to monitor the situation.”
He said a clear picture will emerge in the morning once the team gives the report on the number of cases and their status.
War informed that the cases are mostly in East Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills.
He also informed that additional fogging machines are being dispatched and all measures have been initiated.
At the same time an appeal has been issued to all to bring suspected cases to nearest health facilities for testing and treatment.