With one more death of a woman reportedly infected with the deadly vector-borne disease Japanese Encephalitis, the death toll has increased to 126 in Assam.

The deceased has been identified as Rukiya Begum. Begum was undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College when she breathed her last. 125 people were reported dead till 27th July in Assam due to Japanese Encephalitis with six deaths reported on 26th July from different districts of Assam.

Earlier, the Assam Government, through a press statement has informed that drugs like Paracetamol, Mannitol, IV fluids, and other antibiotics are available free of cost in every public health institution. All District Hospitals and Medical Colleges have designated beds for AES/J.E cases. Ventilator Facilities are available in nice districts of Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Barpeta, Cachar, Golaghat, Kamrup (M), Lakhimpur, Sivasagar. For early transportation of the fever cases from the villages to the district Hospital or Medical Colleges, 108 Mritunjoy ambulances are earmarked. A total of 3,622 fever cases have been transferred to the health facilities during June 2019, a statement said.

The Government of India plans to begin an adult vaccination programme across the state during the current year after the Japanese Encephalitis season is over. “The situation in the state is under close watch and all preventive measures are being taken. Therefore to combat the situation, State has already put the following measures in place”, read the communique.
Further, it has been reported that 12.8 lakh Blood slides have been collected by a fever surveillance network of 2663 MPs, 963 Surveillance workers, 80 MTS, and 30940 Asha workers. It may be mentioned that the treatment and diagnostic cost at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals are being borne by the State.

A certain number of beds in all the ICU and wards have been reserved for patients with JE/AES in all district hospitals and Medical Colleges.State monitors have been appointed to monitor and support the field functionaries in smooth handling of the season. All DCs and Joint directors of the health department have been directed to step up vigil during the transmission season.

In addition to the above, many emergency measures are being put in place till September 30, 2019, by the state Government to overcome the situation.