JE toll mounts to 285 in UP

Gorakhpur, Sep 24 (UNI) The vector-borne Japanese Encephalitis claimed lives of two more children today, taking the toll to 285 in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The deceased belonged to this district.

Last year, JE had killed almost 1,000 people in UP, while the scourge has accounted for several thousands of lives in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region over the last decade.

Official sources said so far, 1527 JE patients had reported at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College here and other district hospitals in the division, of which 285.

Normally, the mosquito menace is maximum from June to September, however, this year the toll continues to rise even in December.

Twenty four fresh JE cases had come to light today, while 191 JE patients were still convalescing at the various hospitals.

JE patients mostly trickle from Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Sant Kabirnagar, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Gonda, Bahraich, Mau, Ballia and Balrampur districts of UP.

Gorakhpur has the dubious distiction of being the JE epicentre in the region.

The endemic afflicts eastern UP during monsoon every year and continues to take people under its jaws till the onset of winters.

The government undertakes massive vaccination drive against the disease every year, however, the efficacy and penetration of the drive comes under cloud with the mounting toll.

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