Search the Internet           Tips

Brain fever claims 19 in Andhra

The death toll due to a brain fever epidemic in Andhra Pradesh has risen to 19 this year, according to Revenue Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

Briefing newsmen after a state cabinet meeting on Monday, the minister pointed out that 100 cases have been reported from nine districts this year, with 19 children succumbing to the disease.

Raju said that the cabinet discussed measures being taken for the control of this epidemic. He pointed out, "There is high incidence of the epidemic in Anantapur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Nellore, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Guntur and other districts. Out of the 530 mandals in these districts, 27 are high-risk areas."

The minister said that the Japanese encephalitis virus has been affecting Andhra Pradesh for two decades. While 1,273 cases were reported in 1981 and 2,038 cases in 1986, the incidence came down to 1,185 cases in 1993 and 1,036 cases in 1999. "But the fatality rate has been drastically reduced from a high of 34.4 per cent in 1981 to only 19.6 per cent in 1999. There were 203 deaths reported due to brain fever in 1999," he added.

He said that the state government had taken measures on a war-footing for tackling this epidemic. A vaccination drive and distribution of homeopathic medicines have been undertaken in the affected villages. Indoor residual spraying and fogging operations are also being taken up to check the vector that spreads this disease. A publicity campaign has been launched to create an awareness among people about the epidemic.

An epidemic control cell has also been established at the state headquarters. Senior officials from the medical and health department and Indian medicine and homeopathy department have been deputed to monitor the incidence of the disease. Four treatment centres for brain fever have been designated in each affected district.

The minister said, "The situation is being monitored on a day-to-day basis." He said that due to the positive impact of preventive measures this year, the cases of brain fever have come down, compared to the previous year. During the corresponding period last year (till end of October), 174 cases and 28 deaths were reported. The cases mounted during November and December last year. However, efforts are on to check the spread of the disease during the next two months before the epidemic peters out."

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report