The Japanese Encephalitis (JE) toll in Assam rose to 94 on Wednesday with 12 more JE deaths reported in the last two days, a National Health Mission bulletin said here.
The number of JE-positive cases increased to 406 on Wednesday with 32 fresh ones registered in the last two days, the bulletin said. Last week, Times of India reported that JE had spread to every district in Assam except Kokrajhar.
On Wednesday, one death was reported each from the mosquito-borne disease from Hailakandi, Cachar, Nagaon and Tinsukia districts, while number of JE-positive cases was 10, it said.
Eight deaths from JE was reported Tuesday with two from Lakhimpur district and one each in Cachar, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, Goalpara, Kamrup and Karimganj, while 22 JE-positive cases were registered on the same day.
The principal secretary of the health department on Wednesday reviewed the JE deaths case with the district administrations, the bulletin added.
Japanese Encephalitis is a neurological illness characterised by headaches, vomiting and fever resulting from an inflammation of the brain. First spotted in Japan in 1871, it primarily affects children. While a vaccine can be used to prevent the illness, once contracted there is no treatment except to care for the symptoms. JE can result in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Rehabilitation may be necessary for survivors of the disease.
JE is commonly transmitted by Culex mosquitos of the groups Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex vishnui and Culex pseudovishnui.
The JE outbreak comes while the state is already grappling with devastating floods that have displaced 8.7 lakh people.
With inputs from PTI
