Japanese Encephalitis cases on rise in Manipur

IMPHAL, July 31: The spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Manipur, Churachandpur district is still on alarming state after district authority had detected as many as three new positive cases following the demise of another JE patient few days ago. Five more individuals were reported equivocal.
The Health Services Authority (HSA) on July 22 confirmed the detection of nine JE cases in the state. The number of positive cases rose to 12 the following day, it stated.
Stating that it is not an outbreak, HSA said fogging had already been done in the localities of the infected persons to exterminate mosquitoes. Health minister DK Korungthang said there was no need to panic as all possible precautionary measures have been taken to tackle the situation.
In view of the development, Commissioner (Health) PK Singh and director health services Dr. O Ibomcha and team rushed to district headquarters to take stock of the situation on Sunday.
The team also held a meeting with district health authority and decided to intensify the fogging in the volatile locations of the district including district headquarters by increasing three more fogging machines over the existing two machines.
After the death of one JE patient and widespread report of school children suffering from viral fever following the detection of JE cases in the district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lunminthang Haokip of Churachandpur, bordering Mizoram and Myanmar has directed to close down all the educational institutions to prevent the spread of the virus for a week till August 3.The holiday was declared after a number of lower class students applied for leave on account of their illness, sources added.