Malkangiri: The district administration had a tough time containing the toll of Japanese Encephalitis deaths with three more kids perishing at the district headquarters hospital here Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Gayatri Peda, a four-year-old girl of Bariabahal village under Mathili block and Sujit Beti, a three-year-old boy of Uskapalli village and Chumki, the three-year-old daughter of Padia Padiami of Maranpalli village, both under Kalimela block.
With these deaths, the toll reached 67. However, official sources have put it at 62.
At present, five kids are undergoing treatment at the DHH. Two of them have been kept in the ICU in critical condition while three others have been put in JE ward of the hospital, according to reports.
Meanwhile, a six-member central team led by Dr Kalpana Baruah, deputy director of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), on the second day of its visit , went to Chulamendi village under Mathili block to review measures taken by the state government to check the outbreak. Members also sought to know the status of fogging to check mosquito population and shifting of pigs from near human habitations, from the officials.
The team spoke at length to Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, sarpanchs and locals to get a firsthand knowledge about the gravity of the situation. PNN