HC takes stern note of Japanese Encephalitis menace in UP

Allahabad, Jan 3 (UNI) Taking strong note of outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad High Court today directed the state government to set up a 'Nodal Centre for Control of Viral Encephalitis' to carry out surveillance and research on the disease in 34 eastern UP districts with the help of the centre.

JE is a viral disease striking thousands of children since 1978, killing about 6,000 and paralysing as many, particularly in eastern UP.

Passing this order, Justice S Ambwani directed that the nodal centre would consist of a director, an additional director and two assistant directors appointed full time providing their offices with necessary grants to operate from Lucknow.

The nodal centre has been directed to monitor and coordinate all activities, report to the UP government and the court every fortnight, about the action taken by all the components.

The court has also directed to set up a Vector-borne Disease Central Surveillance Unit (VBDC) at BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur.

The state government will provide a grant of Rs 50 lakh for increasing the capacity of the Unit, in addition to the central assistance.

The court has also asked the state to cover all affected districts this year and approach the centre for importing vaccine and immunising children with at least 20 million doses of vaccine.

UP will set up a viral research centre at Gorakhpur and viral diagnostic laboratories at places identified and recommended by the nodal centre in the first phase at seven district hospitals.

UNI