Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak Claims Lives in Majuli and Jorhat

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has now spread across the districts of Majuli and Jorhat in Assam, claiming two lives, including that of a 10-year-old girl and a teenager. The situation has sparked concern among health authorities as vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are also on the rise in more than ten villages across the region.

In Majuli, 10-year-old Barbie Payeng succumbed to Japanese Encephalitis on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH). She was one of six people who had contracted JE in the district since January. Of these six cases, three patients have recovered, one has died, and two are currently still undergoing treatment at JMCH.

The outbreak is not limited to Japanese Encephalitis alone. Authorities have confirmed the simultaneous presence of dengue and malaria in multiple villages of Majuli. In response, blood samples have been collected from approximately 12,000 individuals for testing. The alarming number has prompted intensified health surveillance and emergency measures.

“We have conducted 48 awareness meetings in the district so far due to the increasing number of cases,” said a medical officer. “We’ve carried out fogging operations and distributed mosquito nets embedded with Insecticide-Treated Bed Net (ITBN) technology. We urge residents to visit medical centres at the first sign of symptoms.”

In neighbouring Jorhat district, Japanese Encephalitis has also taken a tragic toll. A teenager, who had been in the ICU of JMCH for several days, passed away, marking the second JE-related death in the district in the past four months. Out of the nine individuals admitted with the infection during this period, two have now died, further deepening the anxiety in the region.

The teenager’s death has cast a pall of grief over the area, highlighting the urgent need for intensified public health interventions and community awareness. As the vector-borne disease season peaks during the monsoon, health officials continue to stress early diagnosis, preventive measures, and immediate medical attention as critical to preventing further casualties.

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