TURA: With no symptoms of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Garo Hills, Dr. Sanjay Tiwari, Consultant, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDLP), Delhi said precautionary measures will be continued and aggressive campaign and fogging should be continued since people are still rearing pigs.
A central health team comprising Tiwari, Dr. SD Majumdar, Senior Regional Director, ROH & FW, Shillong, Dr. M Warshong, SM&HO, DDHS (M), Shillong and others visited various localities in Tura and thereafter held a meeting with the District Administration, West Garo Hills.
Heads of several concerned departments also attended the meeting on Saturday.
After the meeting, Tiwari suggested precautionary measures for Dengue since the upcoming months are also known for dengue.
Earlier in the meeting, Tiwari informed that the patients showing positive results of JE cases have been observed and found that it shows only traces of JE and does not show any clinical signs and symptoms of JE and so far no one was admitted in the hospital.
Further, since JE affects children, Tiwari announced for free JE vaccination for children between 1 to 15 years which will be done in October and November.
But with regards to adult vaccination, he said that it will be based on recommended guidelines and verified reports.
Moreover, Tiwari requested the Tura Municipal Board to coordinate with the monitoring team and to ensure that pigs are not allowed to rear and kept away from human habitation especially in congested localities and the PHE department to ensure continuous water supply so that people do not store water since water in containers results is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Further, he instructed the ICDS to look after the malnourished children and to continue their routine supplementary nutrition Programme in the district since malnourished children are prone to infection and any outbreak of diseases.
Highlighting the participation of development committees in the area, he requested them to organise regular cleaning drives in their respective locality and ensure that no stagnant water remains in the surrounding so as to stay away from the carrier of diseases.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh said precautionary measures should be taken to prevent mosquito bite and also requested the members of development committees to accompany the enforcement team since people are not willing to part with rearing of pigs in urban areas and to maintain the cleanliness of respective localities so as to keep away from these diseases.
He also informed that fogging will be continued regularly and instructed the people to keep their doors and windows open during fogging.