Asia-Pacific Daily Report

The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Sunday (September 20) that 11 children have died of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the past two days in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state. The new deaths bring the total number of victims of the epidemic in Gorakhpur district to 311 so far this year. According to the PTI, a hospital official said that 33 patients with suspected encephalitis were admitted to BRD Medical College on Saturday (September 19). Some 236 patients are being treated there and 40 others are in other government hospitals. The PTI reported that a total of 1,521 patients suffering from JE and acute encephalitis syndrome were admitted to the hospital this year. Patients include mostly children from Gorakhpur, Mahrajganj, Siddharthanagar, Deoria, Kushinagar districts and adjoining Bihar state, as well as Nepal, the official said. JE is a mosquito-borne disease that causes high fevers, vomiting and can sometimes lead to comas and death. The mosquitoes transmit the virus from pigs and birds to humans. Encephalitis has killed thousands in the country since 1978. Doctors say that children between the ages of six months and 15 years are the worst-affected and most of the victims are poor people from rural areas. Doctors say that children who survive will have to face lifelong problems as the disease has a crippling effect. There is no cure for JE after it is contracted, but there are three vaccines in use worldwide. However, India has so far failed to develop an effective vaccination program, according to the BBC. In 2005, a public outcry forced the government to start a mass vaccination program, after 1,500 children died. However, according to the BBC, doctors say the program has not been satisfactory this year.

Source:

· http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:1702185994026856::NO::F2400_P100...

· http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-09/20/content_8713055.htm

· http://www.ptinews.com/news/291494_Japanese-Encephalitis-claims-11-lives-in-Gora...

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