60 die of Japanese encephalitis in north Bengal

“As many as 60 patients already died of Japanese encephalitis in last three weeks at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Hundreds of patients are still admitted at the hospital in critical condition,” West Bengal health services director BR Satpathy said.

Sathpathy said the patients are mainly from various north Bengal districts, neighbouring Assam and Bihar who have succumbed to Japanese encephalitis symptoms.

He said there has been an outbreak of encephalitis in Jalpaiguri district and other north Bengal pockets, mainly rural outskirts. Most of the patients are from Jalpaiguri.

The mounting mortality rate triggered panic in the region where pigs, considered as primary reservoirs of the Japanese encephalitis virus, roam freely on the streets.

There are patients also from Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, Lower Assam and Bihar as well, sources said.

According to sources, these cases of encephalitis have been reported from various parts of the district. People are suffering from the disease from the interior areas of Nagrakata, Chamurchi, Banarhat, Moinaguri and Paharpur.

“We have sounded alert in all seven north Bengal districts and alerted our field officials and other health department staffs. We have asked them to stay ready for any emergency. I have already visited North Bengal Medical College and Hospital today (Monday) and will carry out thorough inspection in some other blocks as well in the region tomorrow (Tuesday) as well,” Satpathy said.