Malkangiri, Oct 28: With three more deaths today due to Japanese Encephalitis, the death toll in Malkangiri due to the disease has increased to 72 in 50 days.
While two children identified as Chandan Kabasi (5) of Badali village in Korokonda block and Sariam Ramu of Jilenguda died today at the district headquarters hospital in Malkangiri district, three-year-old Akash Khemundu of Khairaput block died this morning while undergoing treatment at the ICU of the Koraput hospital.
Yesterday, Health Minister Health Minister Pradeep Amat and Secretary Arti Ahuja visited the affected areas in the district to take stock of the situation and the district Collector and the CDMO accompanied them and visited the affected areas including Kurusibeda village. The minister said that ASHA and Anganwadi workers and teachers have helped a lot in tackling the situation in the district.
Notably, the virus has now been found in pigs at the Koraput district. While 28 blood samples from six blocks in the district were sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Uttar Pradesh, eight were tested positive having affected with Japanese Encephalitis virus. The eight positive cases are from Jeypore, Kotpad and Boipariguda blocks.
