Malkangiri:(Newsonair)-In Odisha, at least 24 children have died from mosquito-borne Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district.
A
team of experts visited the affected area a few days ago and collected
about 70 samples after the children, aged between two and five years,
died in five villages of the district in September and October.
Joint
Director of the state health department, MM Pradhan said that ten
samples have been so far tested positive for the Japanese Encephalitis
virus. The children who died had mild fever and swelling of eyes, nose
and ears.
Pradhan said that the investigation results of the
remaining samples are expected soon. He said the affected villages house
large number of pigs, the amplifying host of the virus.
There
has been no report of new case from the district after the affected
areas were disinfected and an awareness campaign was launched, Pradhan
said.
