Japanese Encephalitis death toll rises to 38 in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis has reached 38 in Odisha's Malkangiri district while the disease continues to spread its tentacles to other districts.

An 11-year-old boy of Bengama village in Brahmagiri area of Puri district died on Thursday after contracting the vector-borne disease.

"As many as 105 persons have been afflicted by Japanese Encephalitis, out of which 25 persons have been cured," said Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.

He said: "Some doctors are camping in Malkangiri district, while some paediatricians will visit the affected areas to take stock of the situation."

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan has met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to discuss how to prevent the spread of disease.

"The Health minister has assured to extend all possible support for identifying the causes of the disease and advise the state government regarding the effective steps for combating the clinical fallout of its spread and preventing the mortality associated with it," said Pradhan.

The MoS also urged Nadda to send a high-level fact-finding team to investigate the causes for the outbreak of the disease and suggest preventive measures to contain the same.