Encephalitis outbreak: 2 health workers suspended

Malkangiri: With the death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis reaching 44 in Malkangiri district on Sunday, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) today suspended two health workers on charges of dereliction of duties.

The two suspended officials are- Subala Mistri and Biswanath Patra, health workers of Badali and Palkonda respectively.

Informing this to media, Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO), Kalyan Sarkar, said, “The two health workers have been suspended on charges of dereliction of duties.”

Briefing newsmen about the condition of the vector-borne disease, Sarkar, said, “20 more patients have been admitted to hospital on Sunday. With the fresh admission, the number of patient at the hospital has reached 137.”

“The Health department is on its toes to curb the spread of the disease. The department is carrying out fogging and spraying of mosquito repellant DDT to restrict mosquito population in the area. So there is a chance to put brake on the spread of the disease soon,” Sarkar added.

Meanwhile, state health secretary Arati Ahuja and National Health Mission (NHM) Shalini Pandit reviewed the situation of the vector-borne disease in Malakangiri.

On the other hand, two senior officials of state health department visited the district to review the situation there. Health department joint secretary Ajit Mishra and director Kailash Das visited the district and took stock of the situation.

After reviewing the situation, Das, said, “The number of patient in the hospital is increasing which is a good sign. Earlier people used to take their children to local quack for treatment. As we have started the awareness drive in the locality, they are bringing their children to hospital.”

“Earlier the death rate was high because the parents were bringing their children when they are in the last stage. With the awareness drive at the community level people are becoming aware of the disease. Besides, doctor teams, field workers, ASHA and workers are providing treatment by moving door to door to restrict the spread of the disease,” Das added.

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Notably, the death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) today mounted to 44 with two more children succumbing to the disease late last night during treatment at district headquarters hospital even as the State government sent more doctors to the affected areas.