HC directs Centre, UP govt to get ready for Japanese Encephalitis

Allahabad, June 12 (UNI) The Allahabad High Court has directed the Central and Uttar Pradesh government to prepare themselves to fight the menace of Viral Encephalitis (VE) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which strikes every year with the onset of monsoon.

JE and VE are vector-birne diseases, which claim about 1,000 lives every year.

The High Court said, this year, if the toll climbs to that of 2005, Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Secretary, Medical and Health, government of Uttar Pradesh will be held responsible.

The court has directed to place this order along with the previous orders before the new Mayawati government in its next cabinet meeting with a true and correct account of the grave medical emergency.

Justice Sunil Ambwani passed this order recently in a contempt petition filed by R K Srivastava. Mr Justice quoted, ''in the last five years, VE killed over 2,000 children in eastern UP. In 2006, hundreds died and this year, 25 (pre monsoon) deaths have already been confirmed so far.'' The court has invited intervention of experts to create an awareness, training schedules and for increasing capacity of district hospitals.

The court observed surveillance centres, advance warning systems, confirmation of treatment, removal of piggeries, vector control and rehabilitation centres are not fully operational.

Amicus Curiac, Jayant Banerji reported HC that since January 1, 2007 to May 22, 2007, out of 75 VE infected children 25 died at BRD medical college, Gorakhpur.

UNI