Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Assam has recorded 39 deaths related to encephalitis outbreaks since the start of the year. Data from the state unit of the National Health Mission confirms seven fatalities were caused by Japanese encephalitis while 32 deaths were linked to acute encephalitis syndrome through June 17.
National Centre for Vector-Borne Disease Control records show 35 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis and 470 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome during this period. Assam remains a primary hotspot for the virus, accounting for approximately 62 percent of all Japanese encephalitis deaths in India since 2018. From early 2018 through March 2026, the state saw 609 deaths, compared to 376 in the rest of the country combined.
State NHM executive director Abhijit Sarma noted that while Japanese encephalitis is a specific cause of acute encephalitis syndrome, the two are distinct clinical categories. Assam has now bolstered surveillance, hospital capacity, and vaccination drives to combat the seasonal peak that typically occurs between May and October.
Health Minister Ashok Singhal emphasized the difficulty of managing the disease during a visit to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. He stated, Japanese encephalitis continues to remain a persistent public health challenge despite ongoing efforts by the government to control its spread. Officials noted that complex environmental factors and transmission cycles involving pigs and mosquitoes make full eradication difficult.
Comments