JE virus found in 14 districts of Bihar

Dr K K Kaushik

Muzaffarpur : The Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) Monitoring Committee, Bihar, member Dr S M Hasan on May 1, 2017, said that JE virus spread by culex mosquito was found in 14 districts including Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Supaul and Khagaria.

Dr Hasan, an expert on the JE and AES, said that about 10 lakh children of these 14 districts were facing the JE threat. So far two children, both from Sitamarhi district, had died due to JE at Muzaffarpur during treatment this year. The situations demands immediate vaccination of children against the disease.

Muzaffarpur Civil Surgeon Dr Lalita Singh and Superintendent, Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital (SKMCH), Muzaffarpur, Dr G K Thakur, however, said that there was absolutely no need to panic as the health department and Muzaffarpur district administration was ready to combat the disease.

They maintained that the reports of Unicef and an organisation working on JE and AES had said that JE virus was found in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Madhubani, Begusarai, Munger, Khagaria, Rohtas and Kaimur districts of Bihar and regular vaccination drive is immediately required.

Dr Thakur said that vaccination was the only way to prevent the outbreak of the disease. He said there were guidelines for the doctors to treat the patients showing symptoms of JE or AES. Dr Brajmohan, a paediatrician, said that experts from US and Pune( Maharashtra) had come to Muzaffarpur in 2016  and visited Mushari block of the district to collect samples. They had appreciated the line of treatment of local doctors.