Malkangiri: The district administration has finally begun shifting pigsties to the outskirts of villages reeling under a wave of Japanese encephalitis deaths, in a move that was to be implemented much earlier.
At least 30 children have died of Japanese encephalitis in interior villages of Malkangiri district within a month. The killer disease is spread from pigs to humans, with mosquitoes being the vector.
There is little knowledge among the villagers on how to combat the disease, as several attempts by the government to raise awareness have failed. Over 200 children are said to have succumbed to the disease in the last four years, according to government estimates. Many more are suspected to have died in interior villages.
Mosquito nets are being distributed among the villagers, according to sources.
The vector-borne disease was first detected in Potrel village of Korukonda block in 2014. At least 17 children had died within seven days at that time, which made newspaper headlines in the state. Following this, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and secretary Arti Ahuja visited Potrel with a medical team in tow.
They analysed the cause and prevention of the disease and advised the administration accordingly. Then it became known that the disease is spread among humans through mosquitoes. A child gets the disease if a mosquito bites him/her after biting an infected pig. However, the administration was unable to come up with a solution to check the disease.
Nearly 30 kids have succumbed to the disease since September 9 only at government hospitals whereas there are no reports of casualties in interior pockets of the district.
Meanwhile, the health minister and secretary after visiting several affected areas asked all the BDOs of the district and local representatives to ensure the removal of piggeries from human habitation and hygiene in villages.
While shifting of pigs began in worst-hit Palkonda village under Korukonda block, a sanitation drive has been launched on behalf of the administration in Dangasakhal, Siadimal, Kalerguda, Sindhiguda villages under the same block. The pigs have been kept at makeshift enclosures which are far away from the village. Similarly, 180 families of Sindhiguda and Dangasakhal villages were given mosquito nets to keep the vectors at bay.
Bed nets would be distributed soon in other villages, sector supervisor Bisikeshan Shabar said. PNN
