JE outbreak claims first victim in Tura

TURA: The first reported case of death from the symptoms of the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has occurred in Edenbari locality of Tura on Wednesday morning.
The deceased Jobath A Sangma (28), who was being treated at Tura Christian Hospital and had been discharged on the request of his family on Tuesday, died at his residence in the wee hours of Wednesday.
This is the first JE-reported death in Garo Hills which has taken place barely two months after a suspected outbreak of the disease in which over a dozen cases were reported from various parts of the region.
The highest number of suspected JE cases was reported from in-and-around Tura but a specialist central medical team dispatched to the region had, at that point of time, dismissed the reports of any JE outbreak.
The hospital diagnosis report mentioned, “Acute Encephalitis Syndrome JE Serology Positive” and the clinical presentation report stated that the patient had “high grade fever for last five days with one episode of seizure present.”
According to family members of the victim, they decided to move for Sangma’s discharge after failing to find any improvement on his condition.
The deceased had, just a year back, joined the Rongara Development Block in South Garo Hills as a Coordinator for the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
A month ago, while at work, Sangma began experiencing bouts of fever and was treated at Baghmara Civil Hospital before his admission in the Tura Hospital, the family members said.