Malkangiri: Two more children suffering from Japanese encephalitis died at the district headquarters hospital here Monday, taking the total number of casualties to 100. Official sources however said 84 deaths have been confirmed as JE casualties.
The deceased were identified as Jhansi Bhoomia (5) of Hatapada Sahi under Mathili block and Babulu Halwa (2) of Dangaguda village under Korukonda block in Malkangiri district. While 32 JE-affected children were undergoing treatment at the DHH, five were kept at the ICU of the hospital, sources said.
On the other hand, the residents of the town Monday performed yajnas at various temples praying for the well-being of the children of the district, it was learnt. Meanwhile, the nine-member team led by National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) joint director Dr Madan Mohan Pradhan visited the hospital Monday to ascertain the condition of the children and examine the treatment being given to the children.
The team comprised Dr PK Sen of NVBDCP in New Delhi, microbiologist Dr Arun Kumar of Manipal University, scientist Dr JK Guruv of National Institute of Virology in Pune, scientist Dr Anna Kerkettta, Debabrata Bhattacharya of RMRC in Bhubaneswar, scientist
Dr SS Sahu of VCRC, entomologist Dr Arun Kumar and collector Susant Parida. PNN
