Assam faces dual challenge of Japanese encephalitis with 41 deaths amid corona

In Assam, on one side there is Corona along with the wrath of floods. Amid the all these problems, the state now faces the issue of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Accoring to the stats, Japanese Encephalitis has been lethal if not more than corona. As on 14th July, 85 cases are there overall with 12 deaths. On the same date in 2019, the cases were 348 to 72 deaths. The AES has so far recorded (as on 13th July) 190 cases with 29 deaths. The same time last year it was 172 deaths and 1324 cases. Thus, so far AES and JE has led to 41 deaths in the state, 5 less than the total COVID-19 deaths (46).

An interesting concern that has arisen is that the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine drive was stopped due to the ongoing corona pandemic post February in some parts. Another worrying cocnerned raised by health onlookers is that since 14th July AES data has stopped coming out.

A big part of the problem is that COVID-19 symptoms are similar to that of the Japanese encephalitis syndrome. In these cases, symptoms may include headache, vomiting, fever, confusion and seizures. Fever is also a symptom of COVID-19. As such, the risk becomes higher.

Also read: Assam flood: 66 deaths, over 35 lakh people still affected in 3,376 villages

The districts affected so far: Japanese Encephalitis

Jorhat 10
Barpeta 9
Sivasagar 5
Sonitpue 5
Nagaon 4
Golaghat 4
Kamrup (M) 3
Kamrup (R) 3
Baksa 3
Morigaon 3

Japanese encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). While most infections result in little or no symptoms, occasional inflammation of the brain occurs. Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is characterized by an acute onset of fever and clinical neurological manifestation that includes mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma.

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