Two JE deaths in Siliguri

TT, Siliguri, July 16: Two persons suffering from Japanese Encephalitis and two others who had symptoms of the disease died at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital here and at MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar in the past 24 hours.

Sunita Oraon, 45, from Alipurduar and Ajit Modak, 42, from Ghoksadanga in Cooch Behar died of JE at NBMCH. Abu Taleb, 26, from Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar died of symptoms of the disease at NBMCH today. A district health department source in Cooch Behar said Sanjay Adhikari, 71, died at MJN Hospital.

"Sunita Oraon was admitted to NBMCH on July 6, Ajit Modak on July 13 and Abu Taleb on July 9. While Sunita and Ajit had tested positive for JE, Abu Taleb was suffering from symptoms of the disease," said a source at NBMCH.

Since January, there have been 12 JE deaths and 15 deaths because of symptoms of the disease at NBMCH.

Sanghamitra Ghosh, the mission director of National Health Mission, state health and family welfare department, held a meeting with the district health officials of Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur and Cooch Behar today regarding measures to tackle the spread of JE.

Biswaranjan Sathpathy, the director of health services, was also present at the meeting. Although, state health officials refused to speak, district health officials who attended the meeting said they were advised not to randomly refer any patient suffering from fever from district and subdivisional hospitals to NBMCH.