Japanese Encephalitis Claims 13 Lives at GMCH in Three Months

The outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam has taken a worrying turn, with the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 13 deaths linked to the disease in the past three months.

According to hospital authorities, a total of 57 encephalitis patients have been admitted to GMCH during this period. As of Friday, 47 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the state’s premier medical institution.

In the past 24 hours alone, 10 new JE cases were admitted, indicating a sharp surge in infections. However, there is some relief as 10 patients have successfully recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Health officials are on alert as the monsoon season creates favourable conditions for the spread of vector-borne diseases like Japanese Encephalitis. The state government has urged people to take precautionary measures, especially in rural and flood-prone areas where mosquito breeding is rampant.

JE is a viral brain infection transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, and it often leads to high fever, seizures, and inflammation of the brain. While preventable through vaccination and vector control, the disease remains a major public health concern in Assam every monsoon.

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