Five die from JE in 45 days

DHANGADHI, Sept 2: Five people have died from Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Seti Zonal Hospital in the past 45 days. Forty-nine others have contracted the disease, of which four are receiving treatment at the hospital.



The spread of the disease that started in mid-July has only increased by now.[break]



According to Padam Acharya, a staffer at the hospital, while four patients are receiving treatment at the hospital, serious patients have been referred to other hospitals.



Those who died of the disease are Maniram Oli, 28, of Punarbas, Kanchanpur; Khagisara Joshi, six, of Bauniya, Kailali; Sarita Chaudhary of Hasuliya-9, Kailali; Kamala Shahi of Pahalmanpur, Kailali; and Ujjwal Dutta Bhatta, 80, of Raikawar, Kanchanpur.



“She had fever in the beginning. Later, she lost consciousness,” said Ashok Bista, husband of Bhagirathi Bista, who has been receiving treatment for the past six days. Bhagirathi is yet to regain consciousness.



Dr Suvesh Raj Kayastha of the hospital said this year the disease has affected more people than it did last year.



Patients show symptoms such as fever, lethargy, hardness in neck and legs, vomiting, and loss of consciousness, among others.



Dr Mahendra Shrestha, director of Regional Health Office, said the disease is caused by Japanese B Encephalitis virus transmitted by culex mosquito.

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