One more child dies of Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri, toll mounts to 68

Malkangiri: While the death toll in Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district has gone up to 68 with the death of one more child this morning, the statement by the Central team that the district administration and the state government have done commendable jobs to contain the spread of the vector-borne disease has raised many eyebrows.

According to reports, Manoj Baraja,  a five-year-old boy of Baraja village of Pedawada panchayat died of the disease at the district headquarters hospital in the morning.

With this, the Encephalitis death toll in the district has gone up to 68 in 46 days.

Two children had died of the disease at the district headquarters hospital on Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Rita Madkami (4) of Bamabeda under Korukonda block and Swati Hantal (2) of Lamtaguda in Khairaput.

Earlier in the day, joint director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Kalpana Baruah and a member of the Central team, told the media that the Malkangiri district administration and the Health department have taken satisfactory measures to curb outbreak of the vector-borne disease in the district.

Baruah who led the Central team which had visited Malkangiri district to take stock of the situation, said the district administration is working well to curb the spread of Japanese Encephalitis. Besides, the State government has taken all possible measures to address the issue. “We visited the affected villages in Malkangiri and the district headquarters hospital and came to a conclusion that the situation is under control,” she added.