SAPTARI, Aug 21: Two people have died from Japanese encephalitis in Saptari district.
Satya Narayan Yadav, 74, of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality-1, and Shiva Kumar Ram, 14, of Rajgadh Rural Municipality died from the infection, according to Shatish Yadav, health officer at the District Health Office, Saptari.
Both died while undergoing treatment on August 6. Yadav died at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, while Ram died at Golden Hospital in Biratnagar.
9 people die from Japanese Encephalitis in this season
Health Officer Yadav said three other people have also been diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis in the district. He said some patients had returned home after receiving treatment, while two had died.
He urged people to take precautions against mosquito bites to prevent the disease. Avoiding going outdoors in the evening, wearing long-sleeved clothing while working in the fields and using mosquito nets while sleeping can help reduce the risk of mosquito bites, he said.
Meanwhile, two people have also died from Japanese encephalitis in Ghodaghodi Municipality of Kailali.
Health worker Man Bahadur Bohara said two people from wards 4 and 9 of Ghodaghodi died while undergoing treatment. The deceased were women aged 34 and 70, he said.
Bohara said cases of Japanese encephalitis have been detected in Ghodaghodi for the past three years. In fiscal year 2081/82 BS, two people from wards 5 and 6 were infected, while two people have died from the infection this year.
“Japanese encephalitis is transmitted to humans through the bite of Culex mosquitoes. The virus can be transmitted when a mosquito that has bitten an infected pig subsequently bites a person. Therefore, it is important to avoid mosquito bites and pay special attention to cleanliness around the home,” Bohara said.
