Encephalitis claims 11 lives in Bihar till 8th of June
Encephalitis claims 11 lives in Bihar till 8th of June
From Jan ’19 altogether 48 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome have been reported
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey discusses the latest situation with Dr. Harsh Vardhan
New Delhi, June 10 (HS): Entire North India has been reeling under severe hot weather conditions and Bihar is no exception. It is this time of the year when the state helplessly grapples with the acute cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis every year.
From January 2019 till the 8th of June, altogether 48 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome have been reported with 11 deaths in the state of Bihar.
To apprise the Centre with the situation, Health Minister of Bihar Mangal Pandey called on Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare at his residence, yesterday.
Both the leaders discussed various health schemes operational in the State. Dr. Harsh Vardhan also reviewed the reported rise in cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome from Muzaffarpur and Japanese Encephalitis from Gaya in Bihar with Pandey. He commended the State for decline in the cases of Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
The Health Minister has directed the senior officers of the Health Ministry to discuss the situation with the State and districts authorities, particularly the recent rise in the cases and deaths in June from Muzzafarpur district.
He has directed the Ministry to extend all support and assistance to the State government. “The Health Ministry is coordinating with Ministry of Women and Child Development for distribution of nutritious food with glucose in the meals to prevent development of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome”, Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
The Health Minister is closely monitoring the situation in the affected districts and shall visit Bihar at an appropriate time in the future to review Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases and the central health schemes in the State.
‘No new cases of Nipah Virus disease in Kerala’
Meanwhile, Dr Harsh Vardhan has stated that there have been no new cases of Nipah virus disease in Kerala. He also stated that the clinical condition of Nipah positive patient is improving further.
As on Sunday, 8 patients are there in the isolation ward and 7 of them were found negative for Nipah virus. The sample from the 8th patient is being tested in the point of Care (POC) lab. On Saturday, four other patients from the isolation were discharged as their clinical condition improved.
National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune collected three blood samples from pigs and about 30 samples from bats from Thodupuzha (Idukki district).
Dr. Harsh Vardhan is personally regularly reviewing and monitoring the Nipah Virus Disease status and has directed the senior officers of the Ministry to review the status with the Kerala state government. The Union Health Ministry is supporting the Kerala state government in management and containment of the situation.
