More cases of JE detected in GH
TURA/ SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday assured that there was no need to panic over the outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in the Garo Hills as the situation was under control while the number of people affected by the vector-borne disease touched 20.
The chief minister, who held a review meeting at Tura on Thursday to take stock of the situation, said the people and different departments have to work separately and jointly to contain the disease.
The meeting reviewed the status and situation and necessary steps undertaken to control the spread of the disease in the district.
Held at the at DRDA Hall the meeting was attended by the Secretary and other senior Health officials, specialists in Japanese Encephalitis, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and officials of the district administration, Tura Municipal Board and Veterinary department besides members of Locality Development Committees, senior citizens and Nokma Council among others.
“There is no need to panic and it is something which is under control. The idea is to spread awareness among the people so that measures are taken and it is contained,” the chief minister said while expressing hope there will be no more cases.
According to a power point presentation in the meeting, there were 17 cases in 2016, five cases and one death in 2017, 29 cases and four deaths in 2018 and 17 cases with one death till June 2019.
Secretary, Health, Pravin Bakshi, however, said so far 20 people have been affected by the disease out of whom eight have recovered.
The chief minister said the trend is alarming and should be analysed seriously on how to tackle this problem in future.
He also directed the health officials to conduct aggressive IEC awareness programmes about the disease and carry out fogging in the vulnerable localities where cases have been found and then extend to other localities of the district and also to continue regular fogging of the localities afterwards.
Speaking on the effects of climate change in the region, he said that these vector borne diseases are more likely to increase in future, therefore, awareness is critical and people should be sensitised especially at the individual level to reduce mosquito density by avoiding mosquito breeding grounds in their surroundings and personal protection against mosquito bite by using bed-nets, use of mosquito repellent, vaccination, etc.
Assuring support to the people of the area, he said that this is not the work of government only, but everyone as a society should come together and cooperate to prevent such situation in future.
New cases
Two more patients have been detected with the disease in South Garo Hills region.
West Garo Hills has so far had the highest number of infections with Tura town — with nine cases — being the worst hit by the outbreak.
The first two cases were reported from Upper Chandmari and Simkalanggre village and soon after 13 cases were detected in the same district.
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.