Guwahati: Assam is heading for another health hazard while fighting for dreaded COVID-19. The state which witnessed a kind of epidemic during this season last year has now put the health department on toes to combat an unforeseen battle in the days to come. The Japanese encephalitis (JE) gripped the state during June – July month in 2019 and took 150 lives.
In 2019, mid-July was the peak in numbers reportedly with 30-35 new cases were registered across the state. Last year from January to September more than 600 positive cases have been reported from various part of the state.
Notably, mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent in Assam mainly due to the weather conditions in the region.
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Meanwhile, the state health officials already have a plan of action to fight with the menace, unlike last year. Dr Rathindra Bhuyan, Director health service has informed ETV Bharat the necessary measures have already been taken and required instructions have also been given to all the districts. He said that the necessary steps are to be placed in force so that the seasonal diseases can be handled effectively while the system is engaged with the fight against the coronavirus.
Sources in the department claim that in the three districts namely Kokrajhar, Mankachar and Goalpara, vaccination for JE is about to complete. However, according to unconfirmed sources four of the suspected JE cases were reported in Dibrugarh and Nalbari district recently.
