Japanese Encephalitis claimed three more lives in Assam in the last 24 hours taking the toll to 35 and reported a total of 24 new cases of during the period.
According to the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, three people died due to the infection of Japanese Encephalitis in the state in the last 24 hours.
Out of 24 new cases, four each were reported from Nagaon, Biswanath district, three in Jorhat district, two each in Dhemaji, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Sonitpur district and one each in Baksa and Chirang district.
A total of 226 cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been detected in July so far.
Japanese encephalitis virus JEV is the most important cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, and belongs to the same genus as dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses.
The first case of Japanese encephalitis viral disease (JE) was documented in 1871 in Japan. The annual incidence of the clinical disease varies both across and within endemic countries, ranging from 1 to 10 per 1 lakh of population or higher during outbreaks, as per World Health Organization (WHO) website.
Most JEV infections are mild (fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms, but approximately 1 in 250 infections results in severe clinical illness. The incubation period is between 4 and 14 days. In children, gastrointestinal pain and vomiting may be the dominant initial symptoms. Severe disease is characterized by rapid onset of high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, seizures, spastic paralysis and ultimately death.
The case-fatality rate can be as high as 30 per cent among those with disease symptoms.
Of those who survive, 20 per cent to 30 per cent suffer permanent intellectual, behavioural or neurological sequelae such as paralysis, recurrent seizures or the inability to speak.
Safe and effective JE vaccines are available to prevent disease. WHO recommends having strong JE prevention and control activities, including JE immunization in all regions where the disease is a recognized public health priority, along with strengthening surveillance and reporting mechanisms.
Even if the number of JE-confirmed cases is low, vaccination should be considered where there is a suitable environment for JE virus transmission.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Assam Flood Situation Improves But 3 More Die; Death Count Reaches 112 These Immigrants In Assam Will Be Allowed To Get Citizenship Under New Law Only 2 Out Of 8 CAA Aspirants Prior To 1971 Appeared For Interview: Himanta Sarma 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare Siddaramaiah Deletes Post On 100% Quota Bill, Karnataka Minister Clarifies Prank Goes Wrong: Woman Falls From 3rd Floor In Mumbai Building, Dies Huge Fire At Gulati Restaurant In Delhi's Pandara Road, No Casualty "This Is The Final Straw": Elon Musk Moving X And SpaceX Out Of California Urvashi Rautela's Bathroom Video Real Or PR Stunt? Internet Debates Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.