Two die of Japanese Encephalitis in Siliguri

TT, July 17: Two persons died of Japanese Encephalitis and one died of symptoms of the disease at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in the past 24 hours.

Bablu Mia, 53, from Alipurduar, and Budhni Kakua, 63, from Jalpaiguri, died of JE. Pandu Ekka, 41, from Bagdogra in Darjeeling district, died of symptoms of the disease.

"Bablu was admitted to NBMCH on July 10, Budhni on July 11 and Pandu on July 14. While Bablu and Budhni tested positive for JE and died today, Pandu died last night," said an NBMCH source.

At present, 14 patients with JE and symptoms of the disease are admitted to NBMCH.

Today, 10 samples from different districts of north Bengal were tested at the microbiology laboratory at NBMCH and six tested positive for JE.

"The samples that have tested positive for JE are from Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri," said an NBMCH source.

In Jalpaiguri, district health officials today issued a directive to all private nursing homes and clinics to inform them if any patient, suffering from JE or symptoms of the disease, visited these health establishments or was admitted to any of the clinics.

"We got to know that Parimal Roy, a resident of Mainaguri, was suffering from JE and was under treatment at a private nursing home in Siliguri. Today, his family members brought him home as they were unable to bear the nursing home bills. Later, they took him to a private clinic in Jalpaiguri where doctors denied him admission. As we learnt about the case, we located the patient. He has been admitted to the district hospital in Jalpaiguri," said a health official.

Prakash Mridha, the chief medical officer of health of Jalpaiguri, said: "All private health establishments have been instructed to inform us in case they come across any patient suffering from JE or its symptoms. Also, they should send blood and other samples of such patients to the district hospital for confirmatory tests,"

He added: "A similar instruction has also been passed to all private nursing homes in the 14 added wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation which are in Jalpaiguri district."