KATHMANDU, Dec 17: Six people have died from Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Chitwan among patients receiving treatment at various hospitals. Since July, 17 patients infected with the disease have been admitted, of whom six have succumbed.
According to Nirmal Ghimire, Chief of the Public Health Office, the deceased include two from Bharatpur Metropolitan City, one from Khairahani Municipality, two from Rapti Municipality, and one from Kalika Municipality. Their ages range from 39 to 89 years: one was 89, one 81, two 70, one 42, and one 39 years old.
9 people die from Japanese Encephalitis in this season
Of the infected, 10 are female and seven are male. Three patients are under 15 years old, five are between 15 and 60, and nine are above 60. Among them, 15 had not been vaccinated, two had been vaccinated, and the vaccination status of others remains unclear. Seven infected patients are from Bharatpur Metropolitan City, four from Khairahani Municipality, one from Madi Municipality, one from Ratnanagar Municipality, two from Rapti Municipality, and two from Kalika Municipality.
Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by the Culex species. These mosquitoes prefer outdoor environments, bite mainly in the evening and morning, and can infect humans after biting pigs, birds, or other livestock. They also breed in rice fields by laying eggs that develop into larvae.
