Encephalitis spreading alarmingly... 47 deaths in last 11 days

EOI, SILIGURI/JALPAIGURI, 19 Jul 2014: The outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Siliguri and parts of Jalpaiguri district is gradually taking the form of an epidemic. Experts from the School of Tropical Medicine, who today visited Jalpaiguri to inspect the infected areas, have directed the district health department to take specific measures to check the breeding of the culex mosquito, the vector of the fatal virus.

Domestic pigs and migratory birds are considered to be responsible for the spread of the virus. The experts suspect the culex mosquito, which breeds in stagnant water at pig firms and paddy fields, are more likely to carry the deadly virus. Nearly a hundred people have been suffering from encephalitis in various parts of Jalpaiguri district.

“Cases of encephalitis have been reported from various parts of the district. Most of those suffering are from interior areas of Nagrakata, Chamurchi, Banarhat, Moinaguri and Paharpur," Chief Medical Officer of Health of Jalpaiguri Jagannath Sarkar said. 

STM virology department head Nimai Bhattacharya said they expect the spread of the disease will be under control by September.

The deadly disease has already taken 47 lives in the last 11 days at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. NBMCH superintendent Dr Amarendranath Sarkar said, "So far 47 patients have died of Japanese encephalitis in the last 11 days. The patients were from Siliguri and adjoining districts of north Bengal and showed symptoms of encephalitis."

Another 36 patients have been admitted at the hospital and the condition of ten of them is been critical, he added.

Meanwhile, North Bengal Development Department minister Gautam Deb including CPM veteran Ashok Bhattacharya today visited the hospital to meet the patients and their relatives.

Speaking to the press later, Bhattacharya said he is strongly disappointed seeing the inadequate resources at the hospital. He alleged the state government has not taken proper measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

 Contrarily, Deb said the state government is committed to protect the people from the deadly disease and hence is undertaking various preventive measures under the guidance of experts.