Gorakhpur:
After claiming at least 376 lives in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the deadly Japanese Encephalitis is slowly spreading its tentacles outside the state with Delhi and Chandigarh being the latest to report cases of the viral infection.
Transmitted by mosquito bites, the infection had, so far, been localised with Gorakhpur in UP being the worst affected. Apart from the over 300 cases of deaths of children, 4480 people were also infected this year, almost double that of last year.
But despite the growing number of cases, the Centre has done little to prevent the spread and recurrence of the lethal outbreak. There was no timely response to requests for vaccines in several letters sent by state governments early this year. The vaccines arrived only by the end of August, too late to be distributed to the affected states, as the infection had already peaked during the monsoon, affecting hundreds.
"We get a lot of patients. To take care of all of them, we need more funds from the Centre", said Dr K P Kushwaha, Head of Department, Paediatrics, BRD Medical College and Hospital.
Given the enormity of the situation, the Centre's handling has clearly been one of negligence. Sample this. There have been only two major vaccination drives in the state, one in 2006 and the other last year. Experts say this is not enough to contain the disease,
In January this year, the Union Health Ministry had promised 66 lakh vaccines to the UP government for re-immunisation but it has, so far, remained just that - a promise. In Assam, another endemic zone, 2090 cases were reported this year. 114 lost their lives with just 42 deaths being reported from the Sibasagar district alone.
With rising mortality figures, state governments have responded to the situation with the required alacrity. It's, unfortunately, the Centre that has been found wanting in its response.