JE has claimed 2101 lives since 2005: UP Health minister

Lucknow, June 28 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Health minister Lalji Verma today informed the state legislative assembly that 2101 people have fallen prey to the deadly Japanese Encephalitis disease since 2005.

The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Hindu Mahasabha MLA from Gorakhpur Dr Radha Mohandas Aggarwal. In his reply, the minister said so far this year 32 people have died of JE. The victims were from nine districts of East UP neighbouring Gorakhpur.

In 2006, 476 deaths were reported from 22 districts of the state, whereas the death toll during the year 2005 was 1593. In the year 2005, the deaths were repoted from 34 districts of the state.

Mr Verma said in the last two months 94.99 lakh children have been administered with JE vaccination. The children belonged to the age group of 1 to 15 years.

The minister assured all possible help when Dr Aggarwal pointed out that the Baba Raghav Das Hospital in Gorakhpur lacked infrastructure to tackle the disease.

UNI