Encephalitis kills two more; toll mounts to 94

Malkangiri: Despite several measures taken by the district administration and Odisha Health department to contain the spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), it is showing no sign of abetment even as the death toll reached 94 with two more children succumbing to the killer fever at the district headquarters hospital today.

Five-year old Babul Halua of MV-22 under Korakonda block and Jhansi Bhumia (5) of Mathili succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment today.

“We are providing round the clock service with 10 staff nurses and anesthetists. A microbiologist is going there where he will stay. We are also planning to send a pathologist there,” said Health Department director, Kailash Chandra Das.

Malkangiri has been the worst victim of Japanese Encephalitis outbreak with the death of 94 due to the deadly virus.

So far 505 villages in the tribal dominated Malkangiri have been affected with the virus. Sources said, officials are gearing up to vaccinate more than 26 lakh children in Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts against JE from December 1.