With the death of two more children, the toll in Japanese Encephalitis outbreak today mounted to 56 in over a month in Odisha’s tribal-dominated Malkangiri district. Two children from Padia and Kalimela blocks died while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of the district headquarters hospital here, taking the toll to 56, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr U S Mishra said. Unconfirmed reports, however, put the toll at 59 due to the vector-borne disease which has affected around 99 villages spread over six blocks in the district. So far, 119 out of the 184 children admitted to the district headquarters hospital here with JE have been discharged after being cured, he said. He would camp in Malkangiri for two months for effective coordination among different departments to bring the situation under control, officials said.

Source: Indian Express October 17, 2016 16:30 UTC